Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in AIDS patients is associated with a CD3 receptor‐mediated T cell hyporesponsiveness

HIV+ individuals with human CMV (HCMV) reactivation have a CD3 receptor‐mediated T cell hyporesponsiveness when compared with CD4‐matched HIV+ and HCMV−control groups. The impairment of proliferation was not reversed by exogenous IL‐2. A typical increase in NFκB expression was observed following cross‐linking of the CD3 receptor, but did not lead to increased CD25 cell surface expression or cell proliferation. The HCMV‐induced non‐responsiveness was not observed when cells were stimulated with phorbol esters. Lymphocytes cultured with media collected from cell cultures infected with HCMV showed a dose‐dependent inhibition in the total T cell population even though cells staining dually for CD8/57 increased in number. The altered growth factor requirements of CD8/57+ cells may therefore account for their presence in AIDS and patients following bone marrow transplantation.