Helper and suppressor T-cell function in HIV-infected hemophilia patients.

T-lymphocyte helper and suppressor functions were assessed in 61 hemophilia patients. Twenty one patients were HIV-negative (Group 1), 27 were HIV-positive without having AIDS-related complex (ARC)/AIDS (Group 2), and 13 had ARC/AIDS (Group 3). T, CD4-positive, or CD8-positive T lymphocytes were cocultured with B lymphocytes and pokeweed mitogen for 6 days and immunoglobulin producing cells were assessed in a reverse hemolytic plaque assay. In HIV-infected patients, T cells as well as the CD4-positive T cell subset exhibited reduced helper (P less than .01, Group 2; P less than .0005, Group 3) and elevated suppressor activity (P less than .02, Group 2; P less than .005, Group 3), whereas no significant difference was found between HIV-negative patients and controls. The number of CD4-positive cells was not correlated with CD4 cell function. CD4-positive cells showed no helper activity (less than 10% of control T cells) in 8/11 (73%), but an excessive suppressor activity (greater than 80% suppression of plaque formation) in 6/11 (55%) Group 3 patients. Our results show that defective helper and elevated suppressor functions of T cells in HIV-infected patients are caused not only by a change in the CD4/CD8 cell counts but also by functional abnormalities of the CD4-positive T-cell subset. These abnormal helper and suppressor functions may play a role in the development of the immunodeficiency state of AIDS patients.