Low CD1c + myeloid dendritic cell counts correlated with a high risk of rapid disease progression during early HIV-1 infection.
BACKGROUND
During early HIV-1 infection (EHI), the interaction between the immune response and the virus determines disease progression. Although CD1c + myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) can trigger the immune response, the relationship between CD1c + mDC alteration and disease progression has not yet been defined.


METHODS
EHI changes in CD1c + mDC counts, surface marker (CD40, CD86, CD83) expression, and IL-12 secretion were assessed by flow cytometry in 29 patients.


RESULTS
When compared with the normal controls, patients with EHI displayed significantly lower CD1c + mDC counts and IL-12 secretion and increased surface markers. CD1c + mDC counts were positively correlated with CD4+ T cell counts and inversely associated with viral loads. IL-12 secretion was only positively associated with CD4+ T cell counts. Rapid progressors had lower counts, CD86 expression, and IL-12 secretion of CD1c + mDCs comparing with typical progressors. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression models suggested patients with low CD1c + mDC counts (<10 cells/μL) had a 4-fold higher risk of rapid disease progression than those with high CD1c + mDC counts. However, no relationship was found between surface markers or IL-12 secretion and disease progression.


CONCLUSIONS
During EHI, patients with low CD1c + mDC counts were more likely to experience rapid disease progression than those with high CD1c + mDC counts.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. cmudyy@163.com.
Yingying
Y
Diao
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of National Health and Family Planning Commission, The First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. windygeng@163.com.|Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. windygeng@163.com.
Wenqing
W
Geng
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of National Health and Family Planning Commission, The First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. medzb@163.com.|Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. medzb@163.com.
Xuejie
X
Fan
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of National Health and Family Planning Commission, The First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. arren_c@hotmail.com.|Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. arren_c@hotmail.com.
Hualu
H
Cui
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of National Health and Family Planning Commission, The First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. shmad@163.com.|Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. shmad@163.com.
Hong
H
Sun
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of National Health and Family Planning Commission, The First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. 13998898169@163.com.|Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. 13998898169@163.com.
Yongjun
Y
Jiang
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of National Health and Family Planning Commission, The First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. w_yanan@163.com.|Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. w_yanan@163.com.
Yanan
Y
Wang
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of National Health and Family Planning Commission, The First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. blueamysun@gmail.com.|Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. blueamysun@gmail.com.
Amy
A
Sun
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of AIDS Immunology of National Health and Family Planning Commission, The First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China. hongshang100@hotmail.com.|Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. hongshang100@hotmail.com.
Hong
H
Shang
D000328:Adult; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002681:China; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D022423:Myeloid Cells / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
D018949:Antigens, CD1; C437944:CD1C protein, human; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018664:Interleukin-12