CD4 expression on human monocytes and lymphocytes from HIV seropositive patients. A flow cytometric analysis.

Mononuclear phagocytes are one of the targets for HIV-1 infection. We wished to study the HIV receptor, CD4, on fresh blood monocytes, as well as a group of cell adhesion molecules (CD11/CD18) on cultured monocytes. The objectives were: (1) to determine the frequency and antigenic density of surface CD4 on blood monocytes, (2) to establish the effect of HIV infection on CD4 density on T cells and monocytes and (3) to determine the effect of growth factors on the expression of CD11/CD18 molecules on cultured monocytes. We found that all monocytes are CD4+ in normal donors and HIV infected patients. The relative concentration of monocytes was not affected in HIV infected patients in contrast to the decline in T cells. In HIV+ patients, the CD4 density on monocytes is increased (p 0.05) but is decreased on T cells (p 0.05). The lower CD4 antigenic density in T cells correlated with the decreased frequency of CD4+ T cells (p 0.03). (Abstract shortened by UMI.