title: HIV-specific CD8 T cells express low levels of IL-7Ralpha: implications for HIV-specific T cell memory.
abstract: Chronic infections in mice can result in defects in memory CD8 T cell properties including low expression of the IL-7Ralpha (CD127). To determine whether defects in memory CD8 T cell formation exist during human chronic infections and to what extent these defects may be allele- or epitope-specific, we compared influenza (Flu), vaccinia (VV) and EBV-specific CD8 T cells to HIV-specific CD8 T cells, using a panel of 13 HIV tetramers. Compared to Flu, VV or EBV, HIV tetramer+ CD8 T cells expressed significantly lower levels of CD127, and this reduction was pervasive across all epitopes and alleles tested and over a wide range of viral loads and CD4 counts. These results indicate impaired HIV-specific memory CD8 T cell differentiation, regardless of level of control of viremia, epitopes targeted or restricting HLA alleles.
authors.affiliation: Emory Vaccine Center and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. jwherry@wistar.org
authors.forename: E John
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Wherry
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: Rika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Draenert
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Photini
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kiepiela
authors.forename: Tonia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Woodberry
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brander
authors.forename: Marylyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Addo
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klenerman
authors.forename: Rafi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000483:Alleles; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014481:United States; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7; C415350:interleukin-7 receptor, alpha chain