Identification of a particular HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell subset with a CD27+ CD45RO-/RA+ phenotype and memory characteristics after initiation of HAART during acute primary HIV infection.
CD8(+) T cells play an important role in controlling viral infections. Defective CD8(+) T-cell responses during HIV infection could contribute to viral persistence. Early initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy during acute primary HIV infection helps to preserve HIV-specific immune responses. Here, we describe a particular CD27(+) CD45RO(-)/RA(+) HIV-specific CD8(+) T cell in participants treated early during the primary infection. These cells, which were present at a very low frequency during primary HIV infection, increased markedly after early treatment, whereas their frequency remained unchanged in untreated participants and in participants treated later. These nonnaive antigen-experienced cells are in a resting state and have characteristics of long-lived memory cells. They also possess direct effector capabilities, such as cytokine production, and are able to proliferate and to acquire cytotoxic functions on reactivation. Our results suggest that these HIV-specific CD27(+) CD45RO(-)/RA(+) CD8(+) T cells, observed when early viral replication is inhibited, form a pool of resting cells with memory characteristics.
Lécuroux
Camille
C
Inserm U802, Université Paris-Sud, Hôpital du Kremlin-Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France. camille.lecuroux@u-psud.fr
Girault
Isabelle
I
Urrutia
Alejandra
A
Doisne
Jean-Marc
JM
Deveau
Christiane
C
Goujard
Cécile
C
Meyer
Laurence
L
Sinet
Martine
M
Venet
Alain
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000378:metabolism*
D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens