Evolution of the functional profile of HIV-specific CD8+ T cells in patients with different progression of HIV infection over 4 years

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2010 Sep;55(1):29-38. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0b013e3181e69609.

Abstract

There is a lack of information about the stability of these responses over time in subjects experiencing differences in HIV disease progression. The functional profile of Gag-specific and Nef-specific CD8T-cell responses based on the simultaneous production macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1beta, interleukin (IL)-2, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was longitudinally assessed using flow cytometry over 4 years in 8 elite controllers (EC), 8 viremic controllers, 10 antiretroviral-naive typical progressors, and 10 patients with virological suppression (VS) on antiretroviral therapy. CD8 T-cell subsets with 2 functions tended to decline, whereas subsets with 1 function tended to increase over time in typical progressors. In viremic controller, Gag and Nef responses evolved differently. In EC, the functional profile of Gag-specific CD8T-cell responses evolved increasing polyfunctionality over time. Finally, Nef-specific responses in VS increased in the MIP+TNF-IL2- CD8 T-cell subset while Gag-specific responses did not change. The functional profile of HIV-specific CD8T-cell responses may evolve in different ways depending of the targeted HIV protein and the ability to control virus replication. In patients with uncontrolled HIV replication, the functionality of Gag-specific CD8T-cell responses tends to diminish over time, whereas in EC, there is an increase in polyfunctional subsets. Interestingly, VS do not seem to restore the polyfunctional profile of HIV-specific CD8T-cell responses.

MeSH terms

  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Chemokine CCL4 / biosynthesis
  • Disease Progression
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Products, gag / immunology
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 / biosynthesis
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / immunology

Substances

  • CCL4 protein, human
  • Chemokine CCL4
  • Gene Products, gag
  • Interleukin-2
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus