Level of CD8 T Lymphocytes Activation in HIV-Infected Pregnant Women: In the Context of CD38 and HLA-DR Activation Markers

Background. To date the effect of pregnancy on the immune activation of CD8 T cells that may affect HIV disease progression has not been well studied and remains unclear. Objective. To determine the effect of pregnancy on CD8 T lymphocyte activation and its relationship with CD4 count in HIV infected pregnant women. Study Design. Case control. Study Site. AMPATH and MTRH in Eldoret, Kenya. Study Subjects. Newly diagnosed asymptomatic HIV positive pregnant and nonpregnant women with no prior receipt of antiretroviral medications. Study Methods. Blood samples were collected from the study participants and levels of activated CD8 T lymphocytes (CD38 and HLA-DR) were determined using flow cytometer and correlated with CD4 counts of the study participants. The descriptive data focusing on frequencies, correlation, and cross-tabulations was statistically determined. Significance of the results was set at . Results. HIV positive pregnant women had lower activated CD8 T lymphocyte counts than nonpregnant HIV positive women. Activated CD8 T lymphocyte counts were also noted to decrease in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Conclusion. Pregnancy has a significant suppression on CD8+ T lymphocyte immune activation during HIV infections. Follow-up studies with more control arms could confirm the present study results. 1. Introduction Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CD8) cell activation is a major cause of HIV pathology [1]. The expression of the activation markers CD38 and HLA-DR on T cells is an indicator of cell activation [2]. HIV infection activates CD8 T cells resulting in their expansion and expression of HLA-DR antigens [3]. To date the effect of pregnancy on the immune activation of CD8 T cells that may affect HIV disease progression has not been well studied and remains unclear. Thus, the study set to investigate the levels of activated CD8+ T surface markers (CD38 and HLA-DR) would lead to a better understanding of the immunological relationship of HIV and pregnancy. The objective of the study was therefore to compare CD8 T lymphocyte activation surface markers (CD38 and HLA-DR) levels in pregnant and nonpregnant women with HIV infection. The study used CD8 cellular immune activation surface markers (CD8+/HLA-DR/CD38) because CD8+ cellular activation, as opposed to CD4+ activation, is more predictive of long-term immunologic responses as CD4+ cells are infected by HIV and are more likely to be removed through apoptosis [4]. 2. Materials and Methods The investigation was done in Eldoret, Kenya, at Academic Model for Providing Access to Healthcare