A balanced type 1/type 2 response is associated with long-term nonprogressive human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.
Previous reports have emphasized the requirements for strong type 1 cell-mediated responses in the control of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). HIV-1 Gag p24-specific CD4 helper T-lymphocyte (HTL) responses have been shown to inversely correlate with viral burden in HIV-1-infected individuals. In this study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 70 individuals with chronic progressive HIV-1 infection (clinical progressors), 10 clinical nonprogressors, and 3 immunologically discordant progressors were assessed for HTL proliferation and type 1/type 2 cytokine production. Clinical progressors lacked functional HIV-1-specific HTLs with proliferative and cytokine-producing capacity. Clinical nonprogressors were found to respond to a wide range of HIV-1 antigens from different clades, producing both type 1 and type 2 cytokines. Immunologically discordant progressors responded strongly to clade B Gag p24 with a type 1 cytokine profile but not to other antigens. Thus, in contrast to clinical nonprogressors, neither progressors nor immunologically discordant progressors secreted interleukin-4 (IL-4) in response to HIV-1 antigens. Both clinical nonprogressors and immunologically discordant progressors responded broadly to B clade Gag p24-overlapping peptides. However, IL-4 production in the nonprogressors was restricted to a limited number of p24 peptides. No HIV-1-specific T-cell responses were seen in 20 seronegative controls. Additionally, we observed a rapid type 1 to type 2 shift in the response of one immunologically discordant progressor upon onset of clinical symptoms. These results suggest that a balanced type 1/type 2 profile correlates with successful long-term control of HIV-1.
Department of Immunology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London SW10 9NH, United Kingdom. n.imani@ic.ac.uk
Nesrina
N
Imami
Antonio
A
Pires
Gareth
G
Hardy
Jamie
J
Wilson
Brian
B
Gazzard
Frances
F
Gotch
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018450:Disease Progression; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D020276:HIV Long-Term Survivors; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load
D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010455:Peptides; D012367:RNA, Viral; D015847:Interleukin-4