title: Immune cellular parameters of leprosy and human immunodeficiency virus-1 co-infected subjects.
abstract: Leprosy and human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) are examples of human infections where interactions between the pathogen and the host cellular immunity determine the clinical manifestations of disease. Hence, a significant immunopathological interaction between HIV-1 and leprosy might be expected. In the present study we explored several aspects of cellular immunity in patients co-infected with HIV-1 and Mycobacterium leprae. Twenty-eight individuals were studied, comprising four groups: healthy controls, HIV-1 and M. leprae co-infection, HIV-1 mono-infection, and M. leprae mono-infection. Subjects in the mono-infection and co-infection groups were matched as far as possible for bacillary load and HIV disease status, as appropriate. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were analysed using six- and seven-colour flow cytometry to evaluate T-cell subpopulations and their activation status, dendritic cell (DC) distribution phenotypes and expression of IL-4 by T cells. The co-infected group exhibited lower CD4 : CD8 ratios, higher levels of CD8(+) T-cell activation, increased V delta : V delta 2 T cell ratios and decreased percentages of plasmacytoid DC, compared with HIV-1 mono-infected subjects. Across infected groups, IL-4 production by CD4(+) T lymphocytes was positively correlated with the percentage of effector memory CD4(+) T cells, suggesting antigenically driven differentiation of this population of T cells in both HIV-1 and M. leprae infections. Co-infection with M. leprae may exacerbate the immunopathology of HIV-1 disease. A T helper 2 (Th2) bias in the CD4(+) T-cell response was evident in both HIV-1 infection and leprosy, but no additive effect was apparent in co-infected patients.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Karina I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Solange
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marti
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Patrick A J
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Haslett
authors.forename: Esper G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Kallas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D015847:Interleukin-4