PD-1 is a regulator of virus-specific CD8+ T cell survival in HIV infection.
Here, we report on the expression of programmed death (PD)-1 on human virus-specific CD8(+) T cells and the effect of manipulating signaling through PD-1 on the survival, proliferation, and cytokine function of these cells. PD-1 expression was found to be low on naive CD8(+) T cells and increased on memory CD8(+) T cells according to antigen specificity. Memory CD8(+) T cells specific for poorly controlled chronic persistent virus (HIV) more frequently expressed PD-1 than memory CD8(+) T cells specific for well-controlled persistent virus (cytomegalovirus) or acute (vaccinia) viruses. PD-1 expression was independent of maturational markers on memory CD8(+) T cells and was not directly associated with an inability to produce cytokines. Importantly, the level of PD-1 surface expression was the primary determinant of apoptosis sensitivity of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells. Manipulation of PD-1 led to changes in the ability of the cells to survive and expand, which, over several days, affected the number of cells expressing cytokines. Therefore, PD-1 is a major regulator of apoptosis that can impact the frequency of antiviral T cells in chronic infections such as HIV, and could be manipulated to improve HIV-specific CD8(+) T cell numbers, but possibly not all functions in vivo.
Petrovas
Constantinos
C
Immunology Laboratory, Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Casazza
Joseph P
JP
Brenchley
Jason M
JM
Price
David A
DA
Gostick
Emma
E
Adams
William C
WC
Precopio
Melissa L
ML
Schacker
Timothy
T
Roederer
Mario
M
Douek
Daniel C
DC
Koup
Richard A
RA
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D002470:Cell Survival; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
D015703:Antigens, CD; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C105992:PDCD1 protein, human; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor