Subpopulations of CD4+ (T4+) cells in homosexual/bisexual men with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy.

Using monoclonal antibodies (anti-2H4 and anti-4B4), CD4+ (T4+) T cells are further subdivided into two major subpopulations of inducers of help (T4+4B4+) and inducers of suppression (T4+2H4+). To determine whether human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection results in the depletion of a subset of CD4+ cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) were quantified for the subpopulation of CD4+ T cells, using anti-2H4 and anti-4B4 monoclonal antibodies and fluorescence-activated cell sorter analyser. The proportions and numbers of both T4+2H4+ and T4+4B4+ cells were significantly decreased in PGL as compared to healthy controls. This study demonstrates that HIV infection results in the depletion of both subsets of T4 cells to an almost similar extent.