BACKGROUND AND METHODS: We have used the erosion of telomeric DNA as a measure of cellular division to study the replicative history of isolated T-lymphocyte subpopulations from a group of HIV-infected long-term survivors and age-matched healthy controls. RESULTS: In keeping with previous studies, we found that CD45RO+ (memory) T-cells showed greater telomere erosion than CD45RA+ (naive) T-cells. We did not, however, find any significant differences in the telomere lengths of isolated CD4+, CD8+, CD45RA+ or CD45RO+ T-cells between HIV-infected long-term survivors and age-matched controls. Further, we found no evidence of telomerase activation in T-cells from the HIV-infected groups to account for the lack of telomere erosion. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show no evidence, through telomere shortening, of clonal exhaustion or replicative senescence due to an increased rate of immune cell turnover in HIV-infected long-term survivors.
BACKGROUND AND METHODS: We have used the erosion of telomeric DNA as a measure of cellular division to study the replicative history of isolated T-lymphocyte subpopulations from a group of HIV-infected long-term survivors and age-matched healthy controls. RESULTS: In keeping with previous studies, we found that CD45RO+ (memory) T-cells showed greater telomere erosion than CD45RA+ (naive) T-cells. We did not, however, find any significant differences in the telomere lengths of isolated CD4+, CD8+, CD45RA+ or CD45RO+ T-cells between HIV-infected long-term survivors and age-matched controls. Further, we found no evidence of telomerase activation in T-cells from the HIV-infected groups to account for the lack of telomere erosion. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show no evidence, through telomere shortening, of clonal exhaustion or replicative senescence due to an increased rate of immune cell turnover in HIV-infected long-term survivors.