title: Primary and Chronic HIV Infection Differently Modulates Mucosal Vδ1 and Vδ2 T-Cells Differentiation Profile and Effector Functions.
abstract: Gut-associated immune system has been identified as a major battlefield during the early phases of HIV infection. γδ T-cells, deeply affected in number and function after HIV infection, are able to act as a first line of defence against invading pathogens by producing antiviral soluble factors and by killing infected cells. Despite the relevant role in mucosal immunity, few data are available on gut-associated γδ T-cells during HIV infection. Aim of this work was to evaluate how primary (P-HIV) and chronic (C-HIV) HIV infection affects differentiation profile and functionality of circulating and gut-associated Vδ1 and Vδ2 T-cells. In particular, circulating and mucosal cells were isolated from respectively whole blood and residual gut samples from HIV-infected subjects with primary and chronic infection and from healthy donors (HD). Differentiation profile and functionality were analyzed by multiparametric flow cytometry. P-HIV and C-HIV were characterized by an increase in the frequency of effector Vδ1-T cells both in circulating and mucosal compartments. Moreover, during P-HIV mucosal Vδ1 T-cells expressed high levels of CD107a, suggesting a good effector cytotoxic capability of these cells in the early phase of infection that was lost in C-HIV. P-HIV induced an increase in circulating effector Vδ2 T-cells in comparison to C-HIV and HD. Notably, P-HIV as well as HD were characterized by the ability of mucosal Vδ2 T-cells to spontaneously produce IFN-γ that was lost in C-HIV. Altogether, our data showed for the first time a functional capability of mucosal Vδ1 and Vδ2 T-cells during P-HIV that was lost in C-HIV, suggesting exhaustion mechanisms induced by persistent stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cimini
authors.affiliation: Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy; Virology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agrati
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianpiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Offizi
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Chrysoula
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vlassi
authors.affiliation: Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casetti
authors.affiliation: Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sacchi
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy; Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lionetti
authors.affiliation: Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bordoni
authors.affiliation: Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tumino
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scognamiglio
authors.affiliation: Cellular Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" I.R.C.C.S., Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta