title: IL-7 receptor recovery on CD8 T-cells isolated from HIV+ patients is inhibited by the HIV Tat protein.
abstract: Expression of the IL-7 receptor α-chain (CD127) is decreased on CD8 T-cells in HIV infected patients and partially recovers in those receiving antiretroviral therapy with sustained viral suppression. We have shown that soluble HIV Tat protein down regulates CD127 expression on CD8 T-cells isolated from healthy HIV-negative individuals. Tat is taken up by CD8 T-cells via endocytosis, exits the endosome and then translocates to the inner leaflet of the cell membrane where it binds to the cytoplasmic tail of CD127 inducing receptor internalization and degradation by the proteasome. This down regulation of CD127 by Tat results in impaired CD8 T-cell function. Interestingly, suppression of CD127 by Tat is reversible and requires the continual presence of Tat in the culture media. We thus questioned whether the low IL-7 receptor expression evident on CD8 T-cells in HIV+ patients was similarly reversible and if suppression of the receptor could be maintained ex vivo by Tat protein alone. We show here that when CD8 T-cells isolated from HIV+ patients are incubated alone in fresh medium, low CD127 expression on the cell surface recovers to normal levels. This recovery of CD127, however, is completely inhibited by the addition of HIV Tat protein to the culture media. This study then provides evidence that soluble factor(s) are responsible for low CD127 expression on circulating CD8 T-cells in HIV+ individuals and further implicates Tat in suppressing this receptor essential to CD8 T-cell proliferation and function.
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Chronic Disease, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Elliott M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Faller
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Chronic Disease, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McVey
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Chronic Disease, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Division of Infectious Diseases, Ottawa Hospital General Campus, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: MacPherson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D053699:Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D053699:Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus