title: The CD160+ CD8high cytotoxic T cell subset correlates with response to HAART in HIV-1+ patients.
abstract: We investigated the circulating cytotoxic CD160+ CD8(high) subset in correlation to antiviral immunity and response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV+ subjects. The study included 45 treatment-naive patients receiving HAART for 18 months, retrospectively defined as good (n=29) and transient (n=16) responders. HIV-specific CD8 T lymphocyte levels were measured by IFNgamma production in response to p17 Gag, in the presence of immobilized anti-CD160 mAb. We report a significantly increased baseline level of CD160+ CD8(high) subset in good therapy responders. CD160+ CD8(high) subset correlates with CD4+ T cell count, immune activation, and viral load. CD160+ CD8(high) lymphocytes contain a high amount of Granzyme B and include virus-specific T lymphocytes in HIV-1+ subjects. Co-stimulation through CD160 molecules enhances IFNgamma production in response to p17 Gag. Therefore, the CD160+ CD8(high) subset may be useful for monitoring of virus-specific cellular immunity and predicting response to antiretroviral therapy in chronic HIV-1 infection.
authors.affiliation: National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Maria H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nikolova
authors.forename: Maria N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Muhtarova
authors.forename: Hristo B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Taskov
authors.forename: Kostadin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kostov
authors.forename: Ljubomir
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vezenkov
authors.forename: Antoaneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mihova
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boumsell
authors.forename: Armand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bensussan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C114505:CD160 protein, human; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C473991:p17 gag peptide, human immunodeficiency virus; D007371:Interferon-gamma