title: Functional T cell subsets contribute differentially to HIV peptide-specific responses within infected individuals: correlation of these functional T cell subsets with markers of disease progression.
abstract: Using a dual color ELISPOT assay able to detect HIV-specific IFN-gamma, IL-2 and dual IFN-gamma/IL-2 secreting lymphocytes we screened for HIV peptide-specific responses directed against the entire HIV proteome in two groups of untreated HIV-infected individuals, slow progressors (SP) and progressors. We found that the three functional lymphocyte subsets contributed differentially to individual HIV peptide-specific responses within a study subject. Among the identified stimulatory peptides, a higher proportion induced dual IFN-gamma/IL-2 secretion in SP than progressors. While the magnitude of single IFN-gamma secreting lymphocytes is similar between groups, the magnitude of peptide-specific dual IFN-gamma/IL-2 secreting lymphocytes is significantly more intense in SP. Neither single nor total IFN-gamma secreting cell magnitude and breadth measurements correlated with CD4 cell count or viral load whereas both parameters of dual IFN-gamma/IL-2 secreting responses correlated positively with CD4 counts and negatively with viremia.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peretz
authors.forename: Michel L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ndongala
authors.forename: Salix
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boulet
authors.forename: Mohamed R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Boulassel
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rouleau
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Côté
authors.forename: Danièle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Longpré
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Routy
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Falutz
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tremblay
authors.forename: Christos M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tsoukas
authors.forename: Rafick P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Sékaly
authors.forename: Nicole F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Bernard
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D020276:HIV Long-Term Survivors; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010455:Peptides; D007371:Interferon-gamma