Production of anti-CD3/28 expanded CD4+ T lymphocytes from HIV-infected patients with different degrees of disease progression

Abstract

Aims: CD4+ T lymphocytes from HIV-infected patients with different degrees of disease progression based on CD4 count were expanded in vitro using anti-CD3/28-coated beads. Materials & methods: Purified CD4+ T lymphocytes from healthy subjects and patients were expanded for 3 weeks. Moreover, the improvement of cell expansion by IL-2 supplementation was also determined. Results: Expanded CD4+ T lymphocytes from patients had lower fold expansion when compared with healthy subjects. Furthermore, patients with high CD4 counts had higher fold expansion than patients with low CD4 count, and IL-2 supplementation further increased cell expansion. Conclusions: Anti-CD3/28 activation failed to potently induce expansion of CD4+ T lymphocytes from patients. However, the cell expansion could be improved by IL-2 supplementation.