Activation of cytotoxic cells in hyperplastic lymph nodes from HIV-infected patients

Abstract

Serine esterase B (SE B) is a protein contained in cytoplasmic granules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells; SE B gene is transcribed upon activation of these cytotoxic cells. In order to show the in vivo interactions between HIV-infected cells and anti-HIV cytotoxic cells we analysed, by in situ hybridization, the expression of the SE B gene in eight hyperplastic lymph nodes from HIV-1-infected patients presenting with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy. We detected numerous cells expressing the SE B gene. The mean number of positive cells was 3.2 times higher in HIV lymph nodes than in six non-HIV hyperplastic lymph nodes studied in parallel (P < 0.05). In control lymph..