Impaired T-cell proliferation among HAART-treated adults with suboptimal CD4 recovery in an African cohort

Most HIV-infected subjects exhibit a progressive rise in CD4 T-cell counts after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, a subset of individuals exhibit very poor CD4 T-cell recovery despite effective control of HIV-RNA viraemia. We evaluated CD4 T-cell proliferation amo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC immunology 2013-06, Vol.14 (1), p.26-26, Article 26
Main Authors: Nakanjako, Damalie, Ssewanyana, Isaac, Nabatanzi, Rose, Kiragga, Agnes, Kamya, Moses R, Cao, Huyen, Mayanja-Kizza, Harriet
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Anti-HIV agents
Antigens - immunology
Antiretroviral drugs
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
Antiviral agents
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - pathology
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - virology
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - pathology
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - virology
Cell growth
Cell Proliferation
Cohort Studies
Cytomegalovirus
Demography
Drug therapy
Female
Fluoresceins - metabolism
Health aspects
Health sciences
Highly active antiretroviral therapy
HIV
HIV (Viruses)
HIV Infections - drug therapy
HIV Infections - immunology
HIV Infections - virology
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Immune system
Infections
Lymphocyte Activation - immunology
Male
Physiological aspects
Studies
Succinimides - metabolism
T cell receptors
T cells
Uganda
University colleges
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Summary:Most HIV-infected subjects exhibit a progressive rise in CD4 T-cell counts after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, a subset of individuals exhibit very poor CD4 T-cell recovery despite effective control of HIV-RNA viraemia. We evaluated CD4 T-cell proliferation among suboptimal responders and its correlation with CD4 T-cell activation. The magnitude of CD4 increase (difference between absolute CD4 counts at baseline and absolute CD4 counts at 4 years of ART) was grouped into 4 quartiles for the 211 patients with sustained HIV-RNA viral suppression. Cases of 'Suboptimal immune responders' included patients within the lowest quartile [Median CD4 increase 165 (Range -43-298) cells/μl; n=52] and a comparison group of 'Optimal immune responders' was defined as patients within the highest quartile of CD4 increase [Median CD4 increase 528 (Range 417-878) cells/μl; n=52]. Frozen PBMC were thawed and analysed from a convenient sample of 39 suboptimal responders and 48 optimal responders after 4 years of suppressive antiretroviral therapy. T-cell activation was measured by proportions of T-cells expressing surface marker CD38 and HLADR (CD4+CD38+HLA-DR+ and CD8+CD38+HLA-DR+ cells). T-cell proliferation was determined by the extent of carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) dye dilution on culture day 5 of PBMCs in the presence of antigen (SEB, PPD, CMVpp65, GagA and GagD). Samples were analyzed on a FACS Calibur flow cytometer and flow data was analyzed using FlowJo and GraphPad. Overall, CD4 T-cell proliferation on stimulation with SEB, PPD, CMVpp65, Gag A and Gag D.antigens, was lower among suboptimal than optimal responders; this was significant for SEB (CD4+ p=0.003; CD8+ p=0.048) and PPD antigens (CD8+ p=0.038). Among suboptimal responders, T-cell proliferation decreased with increasing immune activation (Negative correlation; slope = -0.13±-0.11) but not among optimal responders. T-cell immune activation and exhaustion were associated with poor proliferation among suboptimal responders to HAART despite sustained viral suppression. We recommend studies to further understand the mechanisms leading to impaired T-cell function among suboptimal responders as well as the potential role of immune modulation in optimizing CD4 count and functional recovery after HAART.
ISSN:1471-2172
1471-2172
DOI:10.1186/1471-2172-14-26