CD52 expression on CD4⁺ T cells in HIV-positive individuals on cART

TY - JOUR

T1 - CD52 expression on CD4+ T cells in HIV-positive individuals on cART

AU - Vojdeman, Fie Juhl

AU - Gaardbo, Julie Christine

AU - Hartling, Hans Jakob

AU - Gelpi, Marco

AU - Hove-Skovsgaard, Malene

AU - Pedersen, Anders Elm

AU - Nielsen, Susanne Dam

PY - 2018/2/1

Y1 - 2018/2/1

N2 - Background: HIV persists in a latent state in quiescent CD4+ T cells preventing eradication of HIV. CD52 is a surface molecule modulated by HIV. We aimed at examining factors related to CD52 expression on CD4+ T cells in HIV-positive individuals and the impact of initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 18 HIV-positive individuals and 10 uninfected age- and sex-matched controls were examined by flow cytometry for CD38 and CD52 expression on CD4+ T cells. Stimulation assays were performed on 8 healthy blood donors to determine a cutoff for CD52 expression. Results: All examined CD4+ T cells expressed CD52. However, both CD4+ T cells with higher (CD52++) and with lower CD52 expression (CD52dim) were found in HIV-positive individuals compared to uninfected controls. Two % CD52dim cells defined groups of high and low CD52: the group of individuals with high CD52 had higher CD4 counts at baseline (447 vs. 54 cells/mL, P = 0.02) and higher increase in CD4 counts during follow-up compared with low CD52 (P = 0.02). After 12 months of cART, CD52 increased (median fluorescence intensity 4846 vs. 5621, P< 0.05), whereas CD38 decreased (median fluorescence intensity 1519 vs. 730, P< 0.0001). Conclusions: All HIV-positive individuals in this cohort had CD4+ T cells that expressed CD52. Higher CD4 counts were found in those with high CD52. Furthermore, an increase in CD52 was found after 12 months of cART, indicating that anti-CD52 antibodies may be more efficient for depletion of CD4+ T cells in HIV-positive individuals on cART.

AB - Background: HIV persists in a latent state in quiescent CD4+ T cells preventing eradication of HIV. CD52 is a surface molecule modulated by HIV. We aimed at examining factors related to CD52 expression on CD4+ T cells in HIV-positive individuals and the impact of initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 18 HIV-positive individuals and 10 uninfected age- and sex-matched controls were examined by flow cytometry for CD38 and CD52 expression on CD4+ T cells. Stimulation assays were performed on 8 healthy blood donors to determine a cutoff for CD52 expression. Results: All examined CD4+ T cells expressed CD52. However, both CD4+ T cells with higher (CD52++) and with lower CD52 expression (CD52dim) were found in HIV-positive individuals compared to uninfected controls. Two % CD52dim cells defined groups of high and low CD52: the group of individuals with high CD52 had higher CD4 counts at baseline (447 vs. 54 cells/mL, P = 0.02) and higher increase in CD4 counts during follow-up compared with low CD52 (P = 0.02). After 12 months of cART, CD52 increased (median fluorescence intensity 4846 vs. 5621, P< 0.05), whereas CD38 decreased (median fluorescence intensity 1519 vs. 730, P< 0.0001). Conclusions: All HIV-positive individuals in this cohort had CD4+ T cells that expressed CD52. Higher CD4 counts were found in those with high CD52. Furthermore, an increase in CD52 was found after 12 months of cART, indicating that anti-CD52 antibodies may be more efficient for depletion of CD4+ T cells in HIV-positive individuals on cART.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001568

DO - 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001568

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29040164

SN - 1525-4135

VL - 77

SP - 217

EP - 220

JO - J A I D S

JF - J A I D S

IS - 2

ER -