Analysis of HIV-1– and CMV-specific CD4 T cells within different populations of memory cells defined by the expression of CCR7.

Patients 3 and 4 had primary HIV-1 and CMV coinfection, patient 8 had primary HIV-1 infection and chronic CMV infection, and patient 14 had only primary HIV-1 infection. Blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with p55 gag and CMV lysates and analyzed for the expression of CD4, CCR7, CD69, and IFN-γ (intracellular expression). The data show the expression of CD69 and IFN-γ within CD4⁺CCR7⁻ and CD4⁺CCR7⁺ T-cell populations. Negative control: unstimulated blood mononuclear cells. Positive controls: blood mononuclear cells stimulated with staphylococcal enterotoxin B. The cluster of events shown in red corresponds to the responder CD4 T cells (ie, coexpressing CD69 and IFN-γ), whereas the cluster of events in blue corresponds to the nonresponder CD4 T cells. The data are expressed as the percentage of cells coexpressing CD69 and IFN-γ within CD4⁺CCR7⁻ and CD4⁺CCR7⁺ T-cell populations. Following in vitro antigen-specific stimulation, blood mononuclear cells were stained with anti–IFN-γ APC, anti-CD69 FITC, anti-CCR7 PE, and anti-CD4 CyChrome.