Increased Enzymatic Activity of the T-Cell Antigen Receptor-Associated Fyn Protein Tyrosine Kinase in Asymptomatic Patients Infected With the Human Immunodeficiency Virus

The immune system of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is in a state of chronic activation; however, the nature of HIV-related immune activation is unknown. As normal T-cell activation involves early tyrosine phosphorylation induced by the T-cell antigen receptor-associated src-family protein tyrosine kinase p59fyn(T) (Fyn), we examined a potential role for this kinase in HIV-related immune dysfunction. We determined the relative specific kinase activity of Fyn in lysates of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 47 normal control individuals tested negative for HIV-1 and -2, human T-cell lymphotropic virus Type I, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis; 14 asymptomatic HIV-infected patients having near-normal CD4+ T-cell counts (350 to 980 CD4+ cells/μL); 4 patients with symptomatic acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (<30 CD4+ cells/μL); 13 patients having chronic infection with HBV (6 patients) or HCV (7 patients); and 6 patients with systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE). All patients with asymptomatic HIV disease were shown to have a profound increase (mean increase of 19-fold; range threefold to 56-fold increase; p = 1.33 × 10−9) in the relative specific kinase activity of Fyn compared to uninfected controls or patients with hepatitis or SLE. In contrast, patients with AIDS had an Fyn-specific kinase activity that was much less affected (mean increase of threefold; range onefold to sevenfold increase; p = 1.30 × 10−5). It was further shown that HIV infection affects the Fyn-specific kinase activity in CD8+-enriched cells, suggesting abnormal Fyn activity in both CD8+ as well as CD4+ T lymphocytes. Initial results implicate a role for the CSK protein tyrosine kinase as responsible for the abnormal Fyn kinase activity observed in HIV-infected patients. These data indicate early and chronic activation of Fyn as a unique HIV-related effect that has the potential to be diagnostic for early HIV infection and/or may serve as a prognostic indicator for advancement to full-blown AIDS. More importantly, sustained activation of the protein tyrosine kinase associated with T-cell antigen receptor function may result in, or contribute to, the immunopathogenic effects associated with HIV infection.