Immunoregulatory T Cells May Be Involved in Preserving CD4 T Cell Counts in HIV-Infected Long-Term Nonprogressors and Controllers

TY - JOUR

T1 - Immunoregulatory T Cells May Be Involved in Preserving CD4 T Cell Counts in HIV-Infected Long-Term Nonprogressors and Controllers

AU - Gaardbo, Julie C

AU - Ronit, Andreas

AU - Hartling, Hans J

AU - Gjerdrum, Lise M R

AU - Springborg, Karoline

AU - Ralfkiær, Elisabeth

AU - Thorsteinsson, Kristina

AU - Ullum, Henrik

AU - Andersen, Åse B

AU - Nielsen, Susanne D

PY - 2014/1/1

Y1 - 2014/1/1

N2 - Background: HIV-infected controllers control viral replication and maintain normal CD4 T cell counts. Long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs) also maintain normal CD4 T cell counts but have ongoing viral replication. We hypothesized that immunoregulatory mechanisms are involved in preserved CD4 T cell counts in controllers and in LTNPs. Methods: Twenty HIV-infected viremic controllers, 5 elite controllers (ECs), and 14 LTNPs were included in this cross-sectional study. For comparison, 25 progressors and 34 healthy controls were included. Regulatory T cells (Tregs), Treg subpopulations, CD161 +Th17 cells, and CD3+CD8+CD161highTc17 cells in peripheral blood were measured using flow cytometry. Tregs in lymphoid tissue were determined in tonsil biopsies and evaluated using immunolabeling. The production of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-b), interleukin (IL)-10, and IL-17 upon stimulation with phytohemagglutinin in peripheral blood was determined by Luminex. Results: All groups of HIV-infected patients displayed similar percentages of Tregs in both peripheral blood and lymphoid tissue. However, a larger percentage of Tregs in ECs and LTNPs were activated compared with that in controls, progressors, and viremic controllers. Further, ECs as the only group of HIV-infected patients, displayed elevated percentages of CD161+Th17 cells, preserved CD3+CD8+CD161highTc17 cells, and preserved IL-10 production. Conclusions: Overall, Treg percentage was similar in both blood and lymphoid tissue in all groups of patients and controls. However, both ECs and LTNPs displayed a large proportion of activated Tregs suggesting immunoregulatory mechanisms to be involved in preserving CD4 T cell counts in HIV-infected nonprogressors.

AB - Background: HIV-infected controllers control viral replication and maintain normal CD4 T cell counts. Long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs) also maintain normal CD4 T cell counts but have ongoing viral replication. We hypothesized that immunoregulatory mechanisms are involved in preserved CD4 T cell counts in controllers and in LTNPs. Methods: Twenty HIV-infected viremic controllers, 5 elite controllers (ECs), and 14 LTNPs were included in this cross-sectional study. For comparison, 25 progressors and 34 healthy controls were included. Regulatory T cells (Tregs), Treg subpopulations, CD161 +Th17 cells, and CD3+CD8+CD161highTc17 cells in peripheral blood were measured using flow cytometry. Tregs in lymphoid tissue were determined in tonsil biopsies and evaluated using immunolabeling. The production of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-b), interleukin (IL)-10, and IL-17 upon stimulation with phytohemagglutinin in peripheral blood was determined by Luminex. Results: All groups of HIV-infected patients displayed similar percentages of Tregs in both peripheral blood and lymphoid tissue. However, a larger percentage of Tregs in ECs and LTNPs were activated compared with that in controls, progressors, and viremic controllers. Further, ECs as the only group of HIV-infected patients, displayed elevated percentages of CD161+Th17 cells, preserved CD3+CD8+CD161highTc17 cells, and preserved IL-10 production. Conclusions: Overall, Treg percentage was similar in both blood and lymphoid tissue in all groups of patients and controls. However, both ECs and LTNPs displayed a large proportion of activated Tregs suggesting immunoregulatory mechanisms to be involved in preserving CD4 T cell counts in HIV-infected nonprogressors.

KW - Adult

KW - Antigens, CD3

KW - CD4 Lymphocyte Count

KW - CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes

KW - Case-Control Studies

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Female

KW - Flow Cytometry

KW - HIV Infections

KW - HIV Long-Term Survivors

KW - Humans

KW - Interleukin-10

KW - Interleukin-17

KW - Lymphocyte Subsets

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily B

KW - T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

KW - Th17 Cells

KW - Transforming Growth Factor beta

U2 - 10.1097/qai.0b013e3182a7c932

DO - 10.1097/qai.0b013e3182a7c932

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23995946

SN - 1525-4135

VL - 65

SP - 10

EP - 18

JO - Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)

JF - Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)

IS - 1

ER -