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Inhibition of Thymopoiesis of CD34⁺ Cell Maturation by HIV-1 in an In Vitro CD34⁺ Cell and Thymic Epithelial Organ Culture Model

^a Division of Allergy/Immunology,
^b Department of Pathology,
^c Department of Pediatrics, St. Louis University Health Sciences Center, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Key Words. Thymopoiesis • CD34⁺ stem cells • Fetal thymic epithelial organ culture • HIV

Correspondence: Dr. Alan P. Knutsen, Division of Allergy/Immunology, Pediatric Research Institute, St. Louis University Health Sciences Center, 3662 Park Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.

The mechanisms by which HIV-1 affects thymopoiesis were determined by preincubating CD34⁺ cells or cultured thymic epithelial (CTE) cells with lymphotropic (T-) and monotropic (M-) strains of HIV-1 in an in vitro CTE organ and CD34⁺ cell coculture model that allows for analysis of development of thymocytes and mature T cells.

When purified CD34⁺ cells were precultured with either T- or M-tropic strains of HIV-1, thymopoiesis was impaired in a two-week coculture manifested by decreased cell number of thymocytes generated. However, the percentages of thymocyte subpopulations were comparable to control uninfected cocultures. Furthermore, HIV infection of thymocytes was predominantly observed in the CD44⁺CD3^– population. However, in a four-week coculture experiment, HIV infection and depletion of more mature thymocytes were also observed.

When CTE cells were preincubated with T- and M- tropic strains of HIV before addition of CD34⁺ cells, the number of thymocytes and subpopulations of thymocytes at early and later stages of maturation were markedly decreased. Furthermore, CD34⁺ and CD44⁺ CD3^– cells become HIV-infected.

In summary, HIV-1 infection inhibited thymocyte maturation at early stages of thymocyte maturation CD44⁺CD25^–CD3^–. In addition, HIV also depleted later stages of CD4⁺ thymocyte subpopulations.

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