The prevalence of regulatory T cells in lymphoid tissue is correlated with viral load in HIV-infected patients.
Inadequate local cell-mediated immunity appears crucial for the establishment of chronic HIV infection. Accumulation of regulatory T cells (Treg) at the site of HIV replication, the lymphoid organs, may influence the outcome of HIV infection. Our data provide the first evidence that chronic HIV infection changes Treg tissue distribution. Several molecules characteristics of Treg (FoxP3, CTLA-4, glucocorticoid-induced TNFR family-related receptor, and CD25) were expressed more in tonsils of untreated patients compared with antiretroviral-treated patients. Importantly, most FoxP3+ cells expressed CTLA-4, but not CD69. Furthermore, a direct correlation between FoxP3 levels and viral load was evident. In contrast, FoxP3 expression was decreased in circulating T cells from untreated patients, but normalized after initiation of treatment. Functional markers of Treg activity (indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, TGF-beta, and CD80) were markedly increased in the tonsils of untreated patients. Our data could provide a new basis for immune-based therapies that counteract in vivo Treg and thereby reinforce appropriate antiviral immunity.
Andersson
Jan
J
Department of Medicine, Center for Infectious Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Boasso
Adriano
A
Nilsson
Jakob
J
Zhang
Rui
R
Shire
Norah J
NJ
Lindback
Stefan
S
Shearer
Gene M
GM
Chougnet
Claire A
CA
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D053450:Glucocorticoid-Induced TNFR-Related Protein; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D053450:Glucocorticoid-Induced TNFR-Related Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; C491405:TNFRSF18 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1