Comparison between HIV- and CMV-specific T cell responses in long-term HIV infected donors.
The mechanisms underlying non-progression in HIV-1 infection are not well understood; however, this state has been associated previously with strong HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cell responses and the preservation of proliferative CD4+ T cell responses to HIV-1 antigens. Using a combination of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) ELISpot assays and tetramer staining, the HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cell populations were quantified and characterized in untreated long-term HIV-1-infected non-progressors and individuals with slowly progressive disease, both in relation to CD4+ T cell responses, and in comparison with responses to cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigens. High levels of CD8+ T cell responses specific for HIV-1 or CMV were observed, but neither their frequency nor their phenotype seemed to differ between the two patient groups. Moreover, while CMV-specific CD4+ T cell responses were preserved in these donors, IFN-gamma release by HIV-1-specific CD4+ T cells was generally low. These data raise questions with regard to the role played by CD8+ T cells in the establishment and maintenance of long-term non-progression.
Papagno
L
L
MRC Human Immunology Unit, Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK. laura.papagno@imm.ox.ac.uk
Appay
V
V
Sutton
J
J
Rostron
T
T
Gillespie
G M A
GM
Ogg
G S
GS
King
A
A
Makadzanhge
A T
AT
Waters
A
A
Balotta
C
C
Vyakarnam
A
A
Easterbrook
P J
PJ
Rowland-Jones
S L
SL
D000328:Adult; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007371:Interferon-gamma