scholarly journals Comparative Evaluation of the Levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T-Cells, Viral Load, and Some Immunomodulatory Trace Elements in ART and ART-naïve HIV Patients in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
pp. 127-133
Author(s):  
Ugochukwu Chioma ◽  
Helen Anthony Waribo ◽  
Donatus O. Onwuli
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Trace Elements ◽  
Viral Load ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Cd4 T Cell ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Port Harcourt ◽  
The Mean

Aim: To evaluate the levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, viral load, and some immunomodulatory trace elements in ART and ART-naïve HIV patients in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria. Methodology: A total of 150 subjects (males and females) between the ages of 20 and 79 were recruited for the study, out of which 50 subjects were apparently healthy (those who tested negative for HIV), and were used as the control group, while the remaining 100 subjects were those who tested positive for HIV, and were used as the test group; out of this 100 subjects, 70 subjects were on anti-retroviral therapy (ART), while the remaining 30 subjects were not on anti-retroviral therapy (ART naïve). About 13 mls of venous blood was collected from the antecubital fossa of each subject. 3mls was dispensed into an EDTA-anticoagulant bottle, and used for the estimation of CD4+ and CD8+ counts using a BD fluorescent activated cell sorter count (FACSC count) automation. Also, 5mls of the venous blood was dispensed into another EDTA-anticoagulated bottle; it was spun to obtain the plasma which was used to analyze the viral load using real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) COBAS TaqMan 48 Analyzer. Then, another 5 mls of the venous blood was dispensed into lithium heparin bottle; it was spun to obtain the plasma, which was used for the analysis of copper, iron, zinc and magnesium by colorimetric method using semi auto-analyzer WP 21E, and selenium using atomic absorption spectrophotometer with graphite furnace technique SN-SG 710690. Results: The results showed that there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the mean levels of CD8+ T-cell, iron and magnesium between the HIV-positive subjects (ART HIV-positive and ART-naïve HIV-positive) and the control. However, the mean levels of CD4+ T-cell and plasma copper were significantly lower (p<0.05) in the HIV-positive subjects compared to the control; also, the mean levels of the CD4+ T-cell in the ART-naïve subjects were significantly lower compared to the ART subjects. The viral load in ART-naïve subjects were significantly higher compared to the ART subjects and control. However, the mean levels of zinc and selenium were significantly lower in the HIV-positive subjects compared to the control. Conclusion: Based on these results, it may be stated that some immunomodulatory trace elements such as zinc and selenium were deficient in HIV-positive subjects, and as such, addition of zinc and/or selenium supplements in the treatment regimen for HIV-positive subjects may be helpful in boosting their immunity and effective management.

scholarly journals Reconstitution of Peripheral T Cells by Tissue-Derived CCR4+ Central Memory Cells Following HIV-1 Antiretroviral Therapy

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yolanda D. Mahnke ◽  
Kipper Fletez-Brant ◽  
Irini Sereti ◽  
Mario Roederer
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Viral Load ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Plasma Viral Load ◽  
Cd4 T Cell ◽  
Cell Numbers ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Hiv 1

Background. Highly active antiretroviral therapy induces clinical benefits to HIV-1 infected individuals, which can be striking in those with progressive disease. Improved survival and decreased incidence of opportunistic infections go hand in hand with a suppression of the plasma viral load, an increase in peripheral CD4+ T-cell counts, as well as a reduction in the activation status of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.Methods. We investigated T-cell dynamics during ART by polychromatic flow cytometry in total as well as in HIV-1-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. We also measured gene expression by single cell transcriptomics to assess functional state.Results. The cytokine pattern of HIV-specific CD8+ T cells was not altered after ART, though their magnitude decreased significantly as the plasma viral load was suppressed to undetectable levels. Importantly, while CD4+ T cell numbers increased substantially during the first year, the population did not normalize: the increases were largely due to expansion of mucosal-derived CCR4+ CD4+ TCM; transcriptomic analysis revealed that these are not classical Th2-type cells.Conclusion. The apparent long-term normalization of CD4+ T-cell numbers following ART does not comprise a normal balance of functionally distinct cells, but results in a dramatic Th2 shift of the reconstituting immune system.

scholarly journals CLL Is Associated with Development of Subclinical Cytomegalovirus Viraemia and Accumulation of Large Populations of “exhausted” CMV-Specific CD4+ T Cells

Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 3290-3290
Author(s):  
Helen M Parry ◽  
Natasha Cutmore ◽  
Nikhil Mirajkar ◽  
Annette Pachnio ◽  
Tina McSkeane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Viral Load ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Class Ii ◽  
Cd4 T Cell ◽  
Effector Memory ◽  
T Cell Exhaustion ◽  
Cell Exhaustion

Abstract Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) is associated with T cell dysfunction and increased expression of markers of T cell exhaustion. Cytomegalovirus is a common herpesvirus infection and is associated with development of accelerated immune senescence in older adults. Within patients with CLL, CMV leads to marked expansion of virus-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells and development of oligoclonal T cell populations. However these features are not known to be associated with clinical symptoms and CMV viral load remains essentially undetectable by conventional qPCR. In this study we used digital PCR to determine CMV viral load in patients with CLL and correlated this with the magnitude and phenotype of the CMV-specific T cell immune response. In particular, we utilised HLA class II tetramers for the first time, in order to assess the contribution of CMV-specific T cell populations to the profile of T cell exhaustion seen in this disease. 68 CMV-seropositive CLL patients and 19 age-matched healthy donors (HD) were recruited for study. All patients were either untreated or had not received chemotherapy for at least 6 months. CMV viral load was determined within purified monocyte populations using a digital droplet PCR method. Viral load per monocyte was increased in CLL patients compared to HD (p=0.04), with the highest viral loads detected in stage C patients. In order to investigate the CMV-specific immune response, nine HLA class I tetramers were generated, containing viral epitopes from pp65, pp50 and IE-1, and two class II tetramers were also available, with epitopes from glycoprotein B and pp65. CMV-specific CD4 T cell responses were increased in CLL patients (n=14) compared to HD (n=11) (4.1 % vs. 0.9 %; p=0.049). Remarkably, in one patient more than half (50.9%) of all CD4 T cells were directed against a single CMV epitope. CD4 CMV-specific T cells were nearly always effector memory in phenotype (78%), somewhat in contrast to CD8 populations where the memory phenotype is split between effector memory (CCR7-, CD45RA-) and terminally differentiated memory cells (CCR7-, CD45RA+). PD1 is an important marker of T cell exhaustion and expression was increased on both CD8 T cells (16.9% Vs 9.6%; p=0.003); and CD4 T cells (16.2 % Vs 8.7 %; p=0.0007) in CLL patients compared to HD. Interestingly, PD1 expression was much higher on CMV-specific CD4 T cells compared to the total CD4 T cell repertoire (50.6% Vs 21%; p=0.01), whereas the opposite profile was observed in relation to CD8 populations. CMV-specific CD4 T cells demonstrated a Th1 cytotoxic phenotype with production of TNF-alpha, IFN-y and Granzyme B. Production of IFN-y and TNF-alpha was reduced in PD1+ populations, consistent with an exhausted phenotype. No CD25+FoxP3 + regulatory T cells were observed within the CMV-specific CD4 T cell population which is of interest given the well documented expansion of this population in patients with CLL. In order to investigate the replicative history of CMV-specific T cells we investigated the telomere length of antigen-specific cells using single cell telomere length analysis. CMV-specific cells had markedly shortened telomere lengths compared to background CD4 and CD8 T cells, with the mean difference of 0.911 kb (maximum 1.836 kb) indicating that they have undergone extensive proliferation in vivo. This work is the first to use digital PCR to measure the subclinical CMV load within peripheral blood and also to examine CMV-specific CD4 T cells using HLA class II tetramers. Our results indicate that immune control of CMV viral load is impaired during the clinical progression of CLL and that a proportion of virus-specific CD4 T cells show signs of exhaustion. These data may reflect ‘cross presentation’ of viral protein by B-CLL tumour cells, which are known to have poor capacity for antigen presentation. The potential clinical importance of these observations is now being addressed. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Longitudinal Changes in Cd4+, Cd8+ T Cell Phenotype and Activation Marker Expression Following Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation among Patients with Cryptococcal Meningitis

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Alice Bayiyana ◽  
Samuel Okurut ◽  
Rose Nabatanzi ◽  
Godfrey Zziwa ◽  
David R. Boulware ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Cryptococcal Meningitis ◽  
Cd8 T Cell ◽  
Cd4 T Cell ◽  
Effector Memory ◽  
Memory Subset

Despite improvement in the prognosis of HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome) patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART), cryptococcal meningitis (CM) still causes 10–15% mortality among HIV-infected patients. The immunological impact of ART on the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell repertoire during cryptococcal co-infection is unclear. We determined longitudinal phenotypic changes in T cell subsets among patients with CM after they initiated ART. We hypothesized that ART alters the clonotypic phenotype and structural composition of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells during CM co-infection. For this substudy, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated at four time points from CM patients following ART initiation during the parent study (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01075152). Phenotypic characterization of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was done using T cell surface marker monoclonal antibodies by flow cytometry. There was variation in the expression of immunophenotypic markers defining central memory (CD27+CD45R0+), effector memory (CD45R0+CD27–), immune activation (CD38+ and Human Leucocyte Antigen DR (HLA-DR+), and exhaustion (Programmed cell death protein one (PD-1) in the CD4+ T cell subset. In comparison to the CD4+ T cell population, the CD8+ central memory subset declined gradually with minimal increase in the effector memory subset. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell immune exhaustion and activation markers remained elevated over 12 weeks. The relative surge and decline in the expression of T cell surface markers outlines a variation in the differentiation of CD4+ T cells during ART treatment during CM co-infection.

scholarly journals Reduced immune-regulatory molecule expression on human colonic memory CD4 T cells in older adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Dillon ◽  
Tezha A. Thompson ◽  
Allison J. Christians ◽  
Martin D. McCarter ◽  
Cara C. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
T Cell Immunity ◽  
Cd4 T Cell ◽  
Cell Immunity ◽  
Memory Cd4 T Cells

Abstract Background The etiology of the low-level chronic inflammatory state associated with aging is likely multifactorial, but a number of animal and human studies have implicated a functional decline of the gastrointestinal immune system as a potential driver. Gut tissue-resident memory T cells play critical roles in mediating protective immunity and in maintaining gut homeostasis, yet few studies have investigated the effect of aging on human gut T cell immunity. To determine if aging impacted CD4 T cell immunity in the human large intestine, we utilized multi-color flow cytometry to measure colonic lamina propria (LP) CD4 T cell frequencies and immune-modulatory marker expression in younger (mean ± SEM: 38 ± 1.5 yrs) and older (77 ± 1.6 yrs) adults. To determine cellular specificity, we evaluated colon LP CD8 T cell frequency and phenotype in the same donors. To probe tissue specificity, we evaluated the same panel of markers in peripheral blood (PB) CD4 T cells in a separate cohort of similarly aged persons. Results Frequencies of colonic CD4 T cells as a fraction of total LP mononuclear cells were higher in older persons whereas absolute numbers of colonic LP CD4 T cells per gram of tissue were similar in both age groups. LP CD4 T cells from older versus younger persons exhibited reduced CTLA-4, PD-1 and Ki67 expression. Levels of Bcl-2, CD57, CD25 and percentages of activated CD38+HLA-DR+ CD4 T cells were similar in both age groups. In memory PB CD4 T cells, older age was only associated with increased CD57 expression. Significant age effects for LP CD8 T cells were only observed for CTLA-4 expression, with lower levels of expression observed on cells from older adults. Conclusions Greater age was associated with reduced expression of the co-inhibitory receptors CTLA-4 and PD-1 on LP CD4 T cells. Colonic LP CD8 T cells from older persons also displayed reduced CTLA-4 expression. These age-associated profiles were not observed in older PB memory CD4 T cells. The decline in co-inhibitory receptor expression on colonic LP T cells may contribute to local and systemic inflammation via a reduced ability to limit ongoing T cell responses to enteric microbial challenge.

scholarly journals HIV-Related Arterial Stiffness in Malawian Adults Is Associated With the Proportion of PD-1–Expressing CD8+ T Cells and Reverses With Antiretroviral Therapy

2019 ◽  
Vol 219 (12) ◽  
pp. 1948-1958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Kelly ◽  
Henry C Mwandumba ◽  
Robert S Heyderman ◽  
Kondwani Jambo ◽  
Raphael Kamng’ona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Arterial Stiffness ◽  
Cell Count ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Cd4 T Cell ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Cd4 T Cell Count

Abstract Background The contribution of immune activation to arterial stiffness and its reversibility in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected adults in sub-Saharan Africa is unknown. Methods HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected Malawian adults initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) with a CD4+ T-cell count of &lt;100 cells/μL were enrolled and followed for 44 weeks; enrollment of infected adults occurred 2 weeks after ART initiation. We evaluated the relationship between carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and T-cell activation (defined as HLA-DR+CD38+ T cells), exhaustion (define as PD-1+ T cells), and senescence (defined as CD57+ T cells) and monocyte subsets, using normal regression. Results In 279 HIV-infected and 110 HIV-uninfected adults, 142 (37%) had hypertension. HIV was independently associated with a 12% higher cfPWV (P = .02) at baseline and a 14% higher cfPWV at week 10 (P = .02), but the increases resolved by week 22. CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell exhaustion were independently associated with a higher cfPWV at baseline (P = .02). At 44 weeks, arterial stiffness improved more in those with greater decreases in the percentage of CD8+ T cells and the percentage of PD-1+CD8+ T cells (P = .01 and P = .03, respectively). When considering HIV-infected participants alone, the adjusted arterial stiffness at week 44 tended to be lower in those with higher baseline percentage of PD-1+CD8+ T cells (P = .054). Conclusions PD-1+CD8+ T-cells are associated with HIV-related arterial stiffness, which remains elevated during the first 3 months of ART. Resources to prevent cardiovascular disease in sub-Saharan Africa should focus on blood pressure reduction and individuals with a low CD4+ T-cell count during early ART.

scholarly journals Partial restoration of immune response in Hepatitis C patients after viral clearance by direct-acting antiviral therapy

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0254243
Author(s):  
Meritxell Llorens-Revull ◽  
Maria Isabel Costafreda ◽  
Angie Rico ◽  
Mercedes Guerrero-Murillo ◽  
Maria Eugenia Soria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Viral Clearance ◽  
Cd4 T Cell ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
T Cell Exhaustion ◽  
Cell Exhaustion

Background & aims HCV CD4+ and CD8+ specific T cells responses are functionally impaired during chronic hepatitis C infection. DAAs therapies eradicate HCV infection in more than 95% of treated patients. However, the impact of HCV elimination on immune responses remain controversial. Here, we aimed to investigate whether HCV cure by DAAs could reverse the impaired immune response to HCV. Methods We analyzed 27 chronic HCV infected patients undergoing DAA treatment in tertiary care hospital, and we determined the phenotypical and functional changes in both HCV CD8+ and CD4+ specific T-cells before and after viral clearance. PD-1, TIM-3 and LAG-3 cell-surface expression was assessed by flow cytometry to determine CD4+ T cell exhaustion. Functional responses to HCV were analyzed by IFN-Ɣ ELISPOT, intracellular cytokine staining (IL-2 and IFN-Ɣ) and CFSE-based proliferation assays. Results We observed a significant decrease in the expression of PD-1 in CD4+ T-cells after 12 weeks of viral clearance in non-cirrhotic patients (p = 0.033) and in treatment-naive patients (p = 0.010), indicating a partial CD4 phenotype restoration. IFN-Ɣ and IL-2 cytokines production by HCV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells remained impaired upon HCV eradication. Finally, a significant increase of the proliferation capacity of both HCV CD4+ and CD8+ specific T-cells was observed after HCV elimination by DAAs therapies. Conclusions Our results show that in chronically infected patients HCV elimination by DAA treatment lead to partial reversion of CD4+ T cell exhaustion. Moreover, proliferative capacity of HCV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells is recovered after DAA’s therapies.

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