Acute human immunodeficiency virus replication causes a rapid and persistent impairment of Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells in chronically infected patients undergoing structured treatment interruption.
T cells expressing Vgamma9Vdelta2 display lytic and proliferative responses against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected cells and release antiviral soluble factors. Chronic HIV-positive patients have deep changes in the composition and function of the circulating gammadelta T cell pool that are restored by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). gammadelta T cells were analyzed during the rapid plasma HIV RNA rebound in HIV-infected patients undergoing structured treatment interruption (STI). A loss in circulating Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells was observed, indicating that acute HIV replication may influence Vgamma9Vdelta2 homeostasis. These cells were lost among CD45RA(-)CD27(-) Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cell effectors, and a significant unresponsiveness, measured as antigen-driven interferon-gamma production, was observed during STI. After HAART resumption and consequent inhibition of HIV replication, Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cell reactivity was restored both quantitatively and functionally. These observations indicate that Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells are activated early after active HIV replication but are rapidly lost when viremia is not controlled.
National Institute of Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, Rome, Italy. martini@inmi.it
Federico
F
Martini
Fabrizio
F
Poccia
Delia
D
Goletti
Stefania
S
Carrara
Donatella
D
Vincenti
Gianpiero
G
D'Offizi
Chiara
C
Agrati
Giuseppe
G
Ippolito
Vittorio
V
Colizzi
Leopoldo Paolo
LP
Pucillo
Carla
C
Montesano
D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication
D012367:RNA, Viral; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta