Comparison between HIV‐ and CMV‐specific T cell responses in long‐term HIV infected donors

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology 2002-12, Vol.130 (3), p.509-517
• Main Authors: PAPAGNO, L., APPAY, V., SUTTON, J., ROSTRON, T., GILLESPIE, G. M. A., OGG, G. S., KING, A., MAKADZANHGE, A. T., WATERS, A., BALOTTA, C., VYAKARNAM, A., EASTERBROOK, P. J., ROWLAND‐JONES, S. L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antigens, Viral - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Chronic Disease; Clinical Studies; Cohort Studies; Cytomegalovirus Infections - immunology; cytotoxic T lymphocytes; Disease Progression; Epitopes - analysis; Female; Flow Cytometry; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV-1; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Interferon-gamma - immunology; long‐term non‐progressor; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocyte Count; Male; Medical sciences; Statistics, Nonparametric; T cell help; T cell maturation; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic - immunology; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2002.02005.x

Summary The mechanisms underlying non‐progression in HIV‐1 infection are not well understood; however, this state has been associated previously with strong HIV‐1‐specific CD8+ T cell responses and the preservation of proliferative CD4+ T cell responses to HIV‐1 antigens. Using a combination of interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) ELISpot assays and tetramer staining, the HIV‐1‐specific CD8+ T cell populations were quantified and characterized in untreated long‐term HIV‐1‐infected non‐progressors and individuals with slowly progressive disease, both in relation to CD4+ T cell responses, and in comparison with responses to cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigens. High levels of CD8+ T cell responses specific for HIV‐1 or CMV were observed, but neither their frequency nor their phenotype seemed to differ between the two patient groups. Moreover, while CMV‐specific CD4+ T cell responses were preserved in these donors, IFN‐γ release by HIV‐1‐specific CD4+ T cells was generally low. These data raise questions with regard to the role played by CD8+ T cells in the establishment and maintenance of long‐term non‐progression.