de Vrij Nicky, Pollmann Julia, Rezende Antonio M, Ibarra-Meneses Ana V, Pham Thao-Thy, Hailemichael Wasihun, Kassa Mekibib, Bogale Tadfe, Melkamu Roma, Yeshanew Arega, Mohammed Rezika, Diro Ermias, Maes Ilse, Domagalska Malgorzata A, Landuyt Hanne, Vogt Florian, van Henten Saskia, Laukens Kris, Cuypers Bart, Meysman Pieter, Beyene Hailemariam, Sisay Kasaye, Kibret Aderajew, Mersha Dagnew, Ritmeijer Koert, van Griensven Johan, Adriaensen Wim
Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium.
Adrem Data Lab, Department of Computer Science, University of Antwerp, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium.
Commun Biol. 2024 May 3;7(1):524. doi: 10.1038/s42003-024-06225-2.
A large proportion of HIV-coinfected visceral leishmaniasis (VL-HIV) patients exhibit chronic disease with frequent VL recurrence. However, knowledge on immunological determinants underlying the disease course is scarce. We longitudinally profiled the circulatory cellular immunity of an Ethiopian HIV cohort that included VL developers. We show that chronic VL-HIV patients exhibit high and persistent levels of TIGIT and PD-1 on CD8/CD8 T cells, in addition to a lower frequency of IFN-γ TIGIT CD8/CD8 T cells, suggestive of impaired T cell functionality. At single T cell transcriptome and clonal resolution, the patients show CD4 T cell anergy, characterised by a lack of T cell activation and lymphoproliferative response. These findings suggest that PD-1 and TIGIT play a pivotal role in VL-HIV chronicity, and may be further explored for patient risk stratification. Our findings provide a strong rationale for adjunctive immunotherapy for the treatment of chronic VL-HIV patients to break the recurrent disease cycle.
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