Evolution of phenotypic memory T cells in HIV-1 infected infants and children

Infants are reported to be devoid of memory T cells at birth but acquire them with time. A cross-sectional study of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-infected and uninfected infants and children that bear the CD4R0 anti-gen was undertaken to describe the development of memory T cells. Linear regression lines derived from the data revealed increasing percentages of memory CD4 and CD8 cells in the uninfected children. Memory CD4 cells in the infected children were detected at a frequency equal to or greater than that seen in uninfected children until 6 months of age but subsequently declined with age. In contrast, memory CD8 cells were found to be significantly increased in HIV-infected children early in life with a rate of increase similar to that seen in the uninfected population. This increase in memory CD8 cells may facilitate the early diagnosis of HIV infection.