Potential role for HIV-specific CD38-/HLA-DR+ CD8+ T cells in viral suppression and cytotoxicity in HIV controllers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

HIV controllers (HIC) are rare HIV-1-infected patients who exhibit spontaneous viral control. HIC have high frequency of CD38-/HLA-DR+ HIV-specific CD8+ T cells. Here we examined the role of this subset in HIC status.

Materials and methods

We compared CD38-/HLA-DR+ CD8+ T cells with the classical CD38+/HLA-DR+ activated phenotype in terms of 1) their activation status, reflected by CD69, CD25, CD71, CD40 and Ki67 expression, 2) functional parameters: Bcl-2 expression, proliferative capacity, and IFN-γ and IL-2 production, and 3) cytotoxic activity. We also investigated how this particular profile is generated.

Results

Compared to CD38+/HLA-DR+ cells, CD38-/HLA-DR+ cells exhibited lower expression of several activation markers, better survival capacity (Bcl-

SUBMITTER: Hua S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4084978 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature