scholarly journals Peripheral T Follicular Helper Cells Are the Major HIV Reservoir within Central Memory CD4 T Cells in Peripheral Blood from Chronically HIV-Infected Individuals on Combination Antiretroviral Therapy

2015 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 2718-2728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suresh Pallikkuth ◽  
Mark Sharkey ◽  
Dunja Z. Babic ◽  
Sachin Gupta ◽  
Geoffrey W. Stone ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTIn this study, we examined the peripheral blood (PB) central memory (TCM) CD4+T cell subsets designated peripheral T follicular helper cells (pTfh cells) and non-pTfh cells to assess HIV permissiveness and persistence. Purified pTfh and non-pTfh cells from healthy HIV-negative donors were tested for HIV permissiveness using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing HIV-1NL4-3/Ba-L, followed by viral reactivation using beads coated with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies. The role of pTfh cells in HIV persistence was analyzed in 12 chronically HIV-1 infected patients before and 48 weeks after initiation of raltegravir-containing combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Total cellular HIV-1 DNA and episomes containing two copies of the viral long terminal repeat (2LTR circles) were analyzed in using droplet digital PCR in the purified pTfh and non-pTfh cells. Activation-inducible HIV p24 expression was determined by flow cytometry. Results indicate that pTfh cells, in particular PD1+pTfh cells, showed greater permissiveness for HIV infection than non-pTfh cells. At week 48 on cART, HIV DNA levels were unchanged from pre-cART levels, although a significant decrease in 2LTR circles was observed in both cell subsets. Inducible HIV p24 expression was higher in pTfh cells than in non-pTfh cells, with the highest frequencies in the PD1+CXCR3−pTfh cell subset. Frequencies of HLADR+CD38+activated CD4 T cells correlated with 2LTR circles in pTfh and non-pTfh cells at both time points and with p24+cells at entry. In conclusion, among CD4 TCMcells in PB of aviremic patients on cART, pTfh cells, in particular the PD1+CXCR3−subset, constitute a major HIV reservoir that is sustained by ongoing residual immune activation. The inducible HIV p24 assay is useful for monitoring HIV reservoirs in defined CD4 T cell subsets.IMPORTANCEIdentification of the type and nature of the cellular compartments of circulating HIV reservoirs is important for targeting of HIV cure strategies. In lymph nodes (LN), a subset of CD4 T cells called T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are preferentially infected by HIV. Central memory (TCM) CD4 T cells are the major cellular reservoir for HIV in peripheral blood and contain a subset of CD4 TCMcells expressing chemokine receptor CXCR5 similar in function to LN Tfh cells termed peripheral Tfh (pTfh) cells. We found that the circulating pTfh cells are highly susceptible to HIV infection and that in HIV-infected patients, HIV persists in these cells following plasma virus suppression with potent cART. These pTfh cells, which constitute a subset of TCMCD4 T cells, can be readily monitored in peripheral blood to assess HIV persistence.

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1325.3-1325
Author(s):  
C. Tomé ◽  
S. C. Barreira ◽  
P. Martins ◽  
A. Valido ◽  
R. Barros ◽  
...  

Background:Several studies have demonstrated that an immune dysregulation affecting both B and T cells occurs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Follicular helper T (Tfh) cells are crucial for B cell maturation, activation and class-switching as well as for germinal center (GC) formation, whereas follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells can modulate the GC reaction by suppressing Tfh and B cells.Objectives:The main goal of this study was to analyze the phenotype and frequency of circulating follicular T cell subsets in established RA patients.Methods:Blood samples were collected from established RA patients with active disease, treated with methotrexate (n=32) and from a group of age and sex-matched healthy donors (n=11). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated and Tfh (CD4+CXCR5+CD45RO+) and Tfr (CD4+ CXCR5+CD25+FoxP3+) cells, as well as their three major subsets [CXCR3+CCR6- (Th1-like), CXCR3-CCR6- (Th2-like) and CXCR3-CCR6+ (Th17-like)] were evaluated by flow cytometry.Results:The frequency of circulating Tfh cells was similar between established RA patients and controls. Nonetheless, RA patients had a decreased frequency of Th1-like Tfh cells, and an increased frequency of Th2-like Tfh cells when compared to controls. No significant differences were observed in the frequencies of Th17-like Tfh cells between both groups. The frequency of circulating Tfr cells was significantly increased in RA patients in comparison to controls. Furthermore, Tfr cells from RA patients had significantly increased CD69 median fluorescence intensity (MFI) values when compared to controls. No significant differences were found in the percentages and MFI values of PD-1, ICOS, CD28, CTLA-4, CD40-L and HLA-DR expressed by Tfh and Tfr cells in RA patients when compared to controls.Conclusion:Established RA patients have increased circulating frequencies of Tfr cells, with higher CD69 expression levels, when compared to healthy controls. These results suggest a pre-activation state of Tfr cells in RA and a potential role in the disease physiopathology.*RA Moura, JE Fonseca and L Graca are joint senior authors.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 912
Author(s):  
Nabila Seddiki ◽  
John Zaunders ◽  
Chan Phetsouphanh ◽  
Vedran Brezar ◽  
Yin Xu ◽  
...  

HIV-1 infection rapidly leads to a loss of the proliferative response of memory CD4+ T lymphocytes, when cultured with recall antigens. We report here that CD73 expression defines a subset of resting memory CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood, which highly express the α-chain of the IL-7 receptor (CD127), but not CD38 or Ki-67, yet are highly proliferative in response to mitogen and recall antigens, and to IL-7, in vitro. These cells also preferentially express CCR5 and produce IL-2. We reasoned that CD73+ memory CD4+ T cells decrease very early in HIV-1 infection. Indeed, CD73+ memory CD4+ T cells comprised a median of 7.5% (interquartile range: 4.5–10.4%) of CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood from healthy adults, but were decreased in primary HIV-1 infection to a median of 3.7% (IQR: 2.6–6.4%; p = 0.002); and in chronic HIV-1 infection to 1.9% (IQR: 1.1–3%; p < 0.0001), and were not restored by antiretroviral therapy. Moreover, we found that a significant proportion of CD73+ memory CD4+ T cells were skewed to a gut-homing phenotype, expressing integrins α4 and β7, CXCR3, CCR6, CD161 and CD26. Accordingly, 20% of CD4+ T cells present in gut biopsies were CD73+. In HIV+ subjects, purified CD73+ resting memory CD4+ T cells in PBMC were infected with HIV-1 DNA, determined by real-time PCR, to the same level as for purified CD73-negative CD4+ T cells, both in untreated and treated subjects. Therefore, the proliferative CD73+ subset of memory CD4+ T cells is disproportionately reduced in HIV-1 infection, but, unexpectedly, their IL-7 dependent long-term resting phenotype suggests that residual infected cells in this subset may contribute significantly to the very long-lived HIV proviral DNA reservoir in treated subjects.


Retrovirology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille L Novis ◽  
Nancie M Archin ◽  
Maria J Buzon ◽  
Eric Verdin ◽  
June L Round ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Yu ◽  
Qijuan Li ◽  
Xi Chen ◽  
Jun Liu ◽  
Linghua Li ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Follicular helper T (TFH) cells have been shown to support productive human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication and to serve as a key component of the latent viral reservoir. However, the viral characteristics of this latent reservoir and the clinical relevance of this reservoir remain unclear. In this study, we assessed the tropic composition of latent viruses from peripheral TFH (pTFH), non-TFH memory, and naive CD4+ T cells from individuals with HIV-1 infections on suppressive combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). X4-tropic latent HIV-1 was preferentially enriched in pTFH cells compared to levels in the other two subsets. Interestingly, the ratio of X4-tropic latent HIV-1 in pTFH cells not only was robustly and inversely correlated with blood CD4+ T cell counts across patients but also was prognostic of CD4+ T cell recovery in individuals on long-term cART. Moreover, patients with higher X4-tropic latent HIV-1 ratios in pTFH cells showed greater risks of opportunistic coinfections. These findings reveal the characteristics of latent HIV-1 in TFH cells and suggest that the ratio of X4-tropic latent HIV-1 in pTFH cells is a valuable indicator for disease progression and cART efficacy. IMPORTANCE TFH cells have been shown to harbor a significant amount of latent HIV-1; however, the viral characteristics of this reservoir and its clinical relevance remain largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that X4-tropic latent HIV-1 is preferentially enriched in pTFH cells, which also accurately reflects the viral tropism shift. The ratio of X4-tropic proviruses in pTFH cells but not in other memory CD4+ T cell subsets is inversely and closely correlated with blood CD4+ T cell counts and CD4+ T cell recovery rates with cART. Our data suggest that the ratio of X4-tropic provirus in peripheral TFH cells can be easily measured and reflects disease progression and treatment outcomes during cART.


2004 ◽  
Vol 200 (6) ◽  
pp. 761-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saurabh Mehandru ◽  
Michael A. Poles ◽  
Klara Tenner-Racz ◽  
Amir Horowitz ◽  
Arlene Hurley ◽  
...  

Given its population of CCR5-expressing, immunologically activated CD4+ T cells, the gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa is uniquely susceptible to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection. We undertook this study to assess whether a preferential depletion of mucosal CD4+ T cells would be observed in HIV-1–infected subjects during the primary infection period, to examine the anatomic subcompartment from which these cells are depleted, and to examine whether suppressive highly active antiretroviral therapy could result in complete immune reconstitution in the mucosal compartment. Our results demonstrate that a significant and preferential depletion of mucosal CD4+ T cells compared with peripheral blood CD4+ T cells is seen during primary HIV-1 infection. CD4+ T cell loss predominated in the effector subcompartment of the GI mucosa, in distinction to the inductive compartment, where HIV-1 RNA was present. Cross-sectional analysis of a cohort of primary HIV-1 infection subjects showed that although chronic suppression of HIV-1 permits near-complete immune recovery of the peripheral blood CD4+ T cell population, a significantly greater CD4+ T cell loss remains in the GI mucosa, despite up to 5 yr of fully suppressive therapy. Given the importance of the mucosal compartment in HIV-1 pathogenesis, further study to elucidate the significance of the changes observed here is critical.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 3684-3684
Author(s):  
Matthew J Ahearne ◽  
Kaljit S Bhuller ◽  
Roger Hew ◽  
Giovanna Roncador ◽  
Martin J.S. Dyer ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 3684 CD4+ T-cells can be distinguished into subsets on the basis of surface marker expression and growth factor production. Follicular helper T-cells (Tfh cells) are characterized by the co-expression of surface markers (CD4, ICOS, PD1 and CXCR5) and nuclear BCL6. Normal germinal centre formation requires Tfh cells but is repressed by another CD4+ T-cell subset, Tregs, (demonstrating CD4 and CD25 expression with nuclear FoxP3). The numbers and architecture of infiltrating T-cells predict clinical outcome in follicular lymphoma but although T-cells are a component of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the relative numbers of CD4+ T-cells and their Tfh and Treg subsets or their association with clinical outcome is not known. We used immunohistochemistry to investigate infiltration by total CD4+, Treg and Tfh cells in cases (n=23) from one centre. The male:female was 1.3:1.0, the age range was 30 to 78 years (median 65 years) and the anticipated association between overall survival and LDH (logrank test, P=0.02) was observed. Patients were treated with R-CHOP with a 21-day cycle. Histological sections were stained with anti-CD4, anti-PD1 and anti-FoxP3 antibodies. For each antibody the area of staining was measured using ImageJ software from 10 high power fields from the same area of each histological section. Tfh cells were identified by strong surface expression of PD1 and Tregs by nuclear expression of FoxP3. CD4+ T-cell infiltration varied by ∼50-fold, and could be diffuse or focal. In 13 cases (57%) the majority of CD4+ T-cells were neither FoxP3+ nor PD1+. Total CD4+ T-cell numbers were positively correlated with FoxP3 (P=0.04) (Figure 1) and with PD1 (P=0.009) (Figure 2) expressing cells suggesting that these subsets were expanded as part of a reaction to the lymphoma capable of stimulating several CD4+ T-cell subsets. High CD4+ (Figure 3) and PD1+ staining predicted good clinical outcome (logrank test, P=0.08) with median survival not being reached at 5 years, but the amount of FoxP3+ staining appeared to be a superior prognostic marker (logrank test, P=0.0069) (Figure 4). There was no association between the cell of origin classification of DLBCL (GCB or ABC) as defined immunohistochemically, and CD4, FoxP3 or PD1 expression. In summary, we have shown that numbers of infiltrating CD4+ T-cells vary between cases of DLBCL and comprises several T-cell subsets including Treg and Tfh cells. No consensus has been reached on the clinical significance of FoxP3+ cell infiltration in DLBCL. Whilst some workers have shown FoxP3 to be associated with a good clinical outcome (Tzankov A., et al. 2008; Lee N., et al. 2008), others have not found a relationship to prognosis (Hasselblom S. et al., 2007). Our data shows that the FoxP3+ Treg cell subset is associated with good clinical outcome but surprisingly we found that both increased total CD4+ T-cells and PD1+ Tfh cells also carry a good prognosis. Disclosures: Wagner: Roche: Honoraria.


Blood ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaki Tateyama ◽  
Naoki Oyaizu ◽  
Thomas W. McCloskey ◽  
Soe Than ◽  
Savita Pahwa

CD4 molecules serve as coreceptors for the T-cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex that are engaged coordinately with TCR and facilitate antigen-specific T-cell activation leading to interleukin 2 (IL-2) production and proliferation. However, cross-ligation of CD4 molecules prior to TCR stimulation has been shown to prime CD4 T cells to undergo apoptosis. Although in vivo and in vitro experiments have implicated the involvement of Fas/FasL interaction in this CD4 cross-linking (CD4XL)-induced apoptosis, detailed mechanisms to account for cell death induction have not been elucidated. In the present study, we demonstrate that CD4XL in purified T cells not only led to Fas up-regulation but also primed CD4 T cells to express FasL upon CD3 stimulation and rendered the T cells susceptible to Fas-mediated apoptosis. Notably, in addition to CD4+ T cells, CD4XL-induced sensitization for apoptosis was observed in CD8+ T cells as well and was associated with Bcl-x down-modulation. Both CD4 and CD8 T-cell subsets underwent apoptosis following cell–cell contact with FasL+ CD4 T cells. CD28 costimulation abrogated CD4XL/CD3-induced apoptosis with restoration of IL-2 production and prevented Bcl-x down-modulation. As CD4 molecules are the primary receptors for human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), we conclude that HIV-1 envelope mediated CD4XL can lead to the generation of FasL-expressing CD4+ T cells that can lead to apoptosis of CD4 as well as CD8 T cells. These findings implicate a novel mechanism for CD8 T-cell depletion in HIV disease.


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