Abnormal expression of the b cell homing chemokine receptor blr1 during the progression of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

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Item Type:	Article
Title:	Abnormal expression of the b cell homing chemokine receptor blr1 during the progression of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
Creators Name:	Foerster, R., Schweigard, G., Johann, S., Emrich, T., Kremmer, E., Nerl, C. and Lipp, M.
Abstract:	The putative chemokine receptor BLR1 has been identified as the first G-protein-coupled receptor involved in B-cell migration and in microenvironmental homing to B-cell follicles and to germinal centers. In healthy individuals, expression of BLR1 is restricted to all mature recirculating B cells and to a subpopulation of T-helper memory cells. In the present study, we analyzed the distribution of BLR1 on defined lymphocyte subsets during the progression of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is shown that the proportion of T-helper memory cells coexpressing BLR1 continuously decreases during the infection, whereas a high proportion of gamma/delta T cells expressing BLR1 can be found in peripheral blood. The latter subpopulation is restricted to lymphoid tissues in healthy individuals. Most interestingly, in 75% of all human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)+ individuals, peripheral blood B cells were identified as not expressing BLR1 and phenotypically resembling germinal center cells of lymphoid tissue. Using BLR1 as a marker molecule, this study identifies peripheral blood lymphocytes in HIV+ individuals that are usually restricted to lymphoid tissue in healthy individuals. Because HIV infection is active in lymphoid tissue even at the clinically latent stage, aberrant expression of the B-cell homing chemokine receptor BLR1 might be an early indicator for the onset of destruction of lymphoid tissue.
Keywords:	Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, B-Lymphocytes, CD Antigens, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Chemokine Receptors, CXCR5 Receptors, Cytokine Receptors, Disease Progression, gamma-delta T-Cell Antigen Receptors, GTP-Binding Proteins, Helper-Inducer T-Lymphocytes, HIV Infections, HIV Seronegativity, Immunologic Memory, T-Lymphocytes
Source:	Blood
ISSN:	0006-4971
Publisher:	American Society of Hematology
Volume:	90
Number:	2
Page Range:	520-525
Date:	15 July 1997
Official Publication:	http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/cgi/content/abstract/90/2/520
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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