Decreased CD4+ T Cell Counts Drive Aberrant B Cell Repertoire Alterations in People Living with HIV
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ABSTRACT: Understanding the evolution of broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) activity in people living with HIV is crucial for vaccine design and immunization strategies. It has been proposed that antibody cross-reactive activity is associated with lower CD4+ T cell counts during people living with HIV, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. To further explore the correlation between antibody reactivity and CD4+ T cell counts, we recruited people living with HIV with varying CD4+ T cell counts: (i) CD4+ T cell <= 50 cells/mL, (ii) 50 cells/mL < CD4+ T cell <= 200 cells/mL, (iii) 200 cells/mL < CD4+ T cell <= 500 cells/mL, (iv) 500 cells/mL < CD4+ T cell. We constructed four SOSIPs.664 trimers and evaluated the antigen-specific antibodies in serum. Immune repertoire sequencing was used to characterize the BCR repertoire of these individuals. The evaluation of antigen-specific antibodies with different SOSIP.664 trimers showed enhanced reactivity in individuals with low CD4+ T cell counts compared to those with high/normal CD4+ T cell counts. Analysis of antibody gene repertoires through BCR high throughput sequencing revealed an increased proportion of IgG with heavy chain complementarity-determining region 3 (CDRH3) loops exceeding 20 amino acids in individuals with CD4+ T cell counts below 50 cells/mL. Notably, the IGHV1-46 and IGHV4-34 germlines, which result in most polyreactive B cells, were preferentially used in individuals with low CD4+ T cell counts. These results suggest that limited engagement of CD4+ T cells could facilitate the survival of aberrant B cell repertoire with long CDRH3 regions.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE287663 | GEO | 2025/09/30
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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