T-Cell Subsets (T, T, T) and Poly-Functional Immune Response in Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection and Different T-CD4 Cell Response.

OBJECTIVE

Dynamic changes of cytotoxic T cell responses against Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1) infection have been the subject of an innovative investigation using antiretroviral therapy (ART). Currently, human CD8 naïve central memory (T), effector memory (T), and effector memory cells re-expressing CD45RA (T) T-cells have been thoroughly studied with ART. CD45RA is a marker usually found on naïve T-cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a longitudinal study of mono-/polyfunctional T-cells in the peripheral blood while targeting three functionally distinct cell populations of CD4 and CD8 T-cells (single IL2 and IFN-γ, dual IL2/IFN-γ) in 50 HIV-1 patients. These patients consisted of 5 controllers, 15 non-controllers, 20 ART responders, and 10 highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) non-responders.

RESULTS

We found that (1) non-controllers had the highest rate of IFN-γ-expressing CD4 or CD8, but the lowest rate of IL2-producing CD4 or CD8. (2) The control of HIV-1 infection was associated with polyfunctional Gag-specific T cell responses in controllers and responders. (3) Non-responders had high serum levels of IL2 and IFN-γ. There was a high percentage of CD4 T cell response cells within the less differentiated phenotype in controllers. CD8 T cell showed a high rate of T and T in responders.

CONCLUSION

High levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines are typical in non-responders, exhausted T-cells may be associated with HIV-1 progression.