O05.2 Characterizing the impact of penile-vaginal sex on HIV-susceptible CD4+ T cell subsets in the female genital tract

Abstract Defining the T helper functions impaired by programmed death–1 (PD-1) is crucial for understanding its role in defective HIV control and determining the therapeutic potential of targeting this inhibitory pathway. We describe here the relationships among disease stage, levels of PD-1 expression, and reversibility of CD4 T-cell impairment. PD-L1 blockade in vitro enhanced HIV-specific production of Th0 (IL-2), Th1 (IFN-γ), Th2 (IL-13), and TFH (IL-21) cytokines by CD4 T cells. PD-L1 blockade caused an early increase in cytokine transcription and translation that preceded cell proliferation. Although the impact of PD-L1 blockade on cytokine expression and, to a lesser extent, cell proliferation was associated with markers of disease progression, restoration of cytokine secretion was also observed in most subjects with undetectable viremia. PD-L1 blockade restored cytokine secretion in both PD-1intermediate and PD-1high sorted CD4 T-cell subsets. Compared with PD-1high HIV-specific CD8 T cells, PD-1high HIV-specific CD4 T cells showed lower expression of the inhibitory molecules CD160 and 2B4, demonstrating marked differences in expression of inhibitory receptors between T-cell subsets. These data show that PD-1 impairs HIV-specific T helper responses both by limiting expansion of these cells and by inhibiting effector functions of multiple differentiated CD4 T-cell subsets.

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Recent Semen Exposure Impacts the Cytokine Response and Bacterial Vaginosis in Women

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2021.695201 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Khanyisile Mngomezulu ◽

Gugulethu F. Mzobe ◽

Andile Mtshali ◽

Farzana Osman ◽

Lenine J. P. Liebenberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Condom Use ◽

Genital Tract ◽

Female Genital Tract ◽

Unprotected Sex ◽

Cytokine Response ◽

Consistent Condom ◽

Nugent Score ◽

Contraception Use ◽

The Impact ◽

Female Genital

BackgroundThe presence of semen in the vagina from unprotected sex may influence the immune and microbial environment of the female genital tract. Inflammatory cytokine concentrations and BV-associated bacteria in female genital secretions may influence HIV risk, although the effect of recent sexual intercourse on incident BV and the cytokine milieu of cervicovaginal secretions has rarely been measured in previous studies. Here, we investigated the extent to which partner semen impacts the cytokine response and incident BV.MethodsAt baseline, we assessed the recency of semen exposure in menstrual cup supernatants by quantifying prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels using ELISA in 248 HIV-uninfected women at high risk for HIV infection. Luminex was used to measure 48 cytokines in menstrual cup supernatants and vaginal swabs to diagnose BV by Nugent score. Point-of-care screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae was conducted using GeneXpert while OSOM was used for Trichomonas vaginalis detection. Multivariable models, adjusted for age, sexually transmitted infections, BV, current contraception use and condom use, were used to assess the impact of semen exposure on biomarkers of inflammation and BV.ResultsPresence of PSA, indicating recent semen exposure within 48 hours prior to sampling, was observed in menstrual cup supernatants of 17% (43/248) of women. Of these women, 70% (30/43) had self-reported condom use at their last sex act and 84% (36/43) had BV (Nugent score >7). PSA presence was significantly associated with prevalent BV (Relative Risk (RR), 2.609; 95% Confidence Interval (CI), 1.104 - 6.165; p = 0.029). Furthermore, women with detectable PSA had high median concentrations of macrophage inflammatory protein- beta (MIP-1α, p=0.047) and low median concentration of the stem cell growth factor beta (SCGF-β, p=0.038) compared to those without PSA.ConclusionA degree of discordance between self-reports of consistent condom use and PSA positivity was observed. There was also evidence of a relationship between recent semen exposure, BV prevalence and altered cytokine concentrations. These findings suggest that PSA, as a semen biomarker, should be taken into consideration when investigating biological markers in the female genital tract and self-reported condom use in studies on reproductive and sexual health.

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Age-Associated Characteristics of CD4+ T-Cell Composition in Patients with Atherosclerosis

Immuno ◽

10.3390/immuno1030019 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 277-284

Author(s):

Anastasiia Yu. Filatova ◽

Alexandra V. Potekhina ◽

Tatiana I. Arefieva

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

T Cell Subsets ◽

Cd4 T Cell ◽

Group Iii ◽

Cytokine Detection ◽

Age Related ◽

Group I ◽

The Impact

Background. We aimed to analyze the contents of the main CD4+ T-cell subsets in patients with atherosclerosis (AS) depending on age. Methods. Male patients with coronary and/or carotid AS, who are non-smokers, and who are receiving statins were divided into three age groups (I—<55 y.o. (n = 23), II—55–64 y.o. (n = 42), III—≥65 y.o. (n = 46)). Leukocyte phenotyping was performed by direct immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. For intracellular cytokine detection, blood mononuclear cells were pre-activated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin in the presence of an intracellular vesicle transport blocker monensin. Results. The groups did not differ in traditional CVD risk factors and AS severity. The content of CD4+ T-cells was lower in group III and II than in group I. The content of CD4+CD25high Treg was lower in group III than in groups I and II. No differences in the quantities of the primed CD39+CD45RA− and CD278high Treg, CD4+INFγ+ Th1, CD4+IL17+ Th17, and CD4+IL17+INFγ+ Th1/17 were observed. There were negative correlations between the values of CD4+ T-cells, CD4+CD45RA+ T-cells, CD4+CD25high Treg, CD4+CD25highCD45RA+ Treg, and age. Conclusion. In patients with AS, the age-related depletion of naive CD4+ T-cells also extends to the regulatory compartment. This phenomenon should be considered when studying the impact of the immune cells on the progression of AS.

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