1
|
Schuetz A, Corley MJ, Sacdalan C, Phuang-Ngern Y, Nakpor T, Wansom T, Ehrenberg PK, Sriplienchan S, Thomas R, Ratnaratorn N, Sukhumvittaya S, Tragonlugsana N, Slike BM, Akapirat S, Pinyakorn S, Rerknimitr R, Pang AP, Kroon E, Teeratakulpisan N, Krebs SJ, Phanuphak N, Ndhlovu LC, Vasan S. Distinct mucosal and systemic immunological characteristics in transgender women potentially relating to HIV acquisition. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e169272. [PMID: 37432754 PMCID: PMC10543719 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.169272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Transgender women (TGW) are disproportionally affected by HIV infection, with a global estimated prevalence of 19.9%, often attributed to behavioral risk factors, with less known about biological factors. We evaluated potential biological risk factors for HIV acquisition in TGW at the sites of viral entry by assessing immune parameters of the neovaginal surface and gut mucosa. The neovagina in TGW, compared with the vagina in cisgender women (CW), shows distinct cell composition and may pose a more inflammatory environment, evidenced by increased CD4+ T cell activation and higher levels of soluble markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein, soluble CD30). Increased inflammation may be driven by microbiome composition, as shown by a greater abundance of Prevotella and a higher Shannon Diversity Index. In addition, we have observed higher frequency of CD4+CCR5+ target cells and decreased DNA methylation of the CCR5 gene in the gut mucosa of TGW compared with CW and men who have sex with men, which was inversely correlated with testosterone levels. The rectal microbiome composition in TGW appears to favor a proinflammatory milieu as well as mucosal barrier disruption. Thus, it is possible that increased inflammation and higher frequencies of CCR5-expressing target cells at sites of mucosal viral entry may contribute to increased risk of HIV acquisition in TGW, with further validation in larger studies warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Schuetz
- Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael J. Corley
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | | | | | | | - Tanyaporn Wansom
- Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Philip K. Ehrenberg
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Rasmi Thomas
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | | | - Bonnie M. Slike
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Siriwat Akapirat
- Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Suteeraporn Pinyakorn
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Rungsun Rerknimitr
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Alina P.S. Pang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Eugène Kroon
- Institute of HIV Research and Innovation, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Shelly J. Krebs
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Lishomwa C. Ndhlovu
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sandhya Vasan
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yegorov S, Joag V, Galiwango RM, Good SV, Okech B, Kaul R. Impact of Endemic Infections on HIV Susceptibility in Sub-Saharan Africa. TROPICAL DISEASES TRAVEL MEDICINE AND VACCINES 2019; 5:22. [PMID: 31798936 PMCID: PMC6884859 DOI: 10.1186/s40794-019-0097-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a leading cause of global morbidity with the highest burden in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). For reasons that are incompletely understood, the likelihood of HIV transmission is several fold higher in SSA than in higher income countries, and most of these infections are acquired by young women. Residents of SSA are also exposed to a variety of endemic infections, such as malaria and various helminthiases that could influence mucosal and systemic immunology. Since these immune parameters are important determinants of HIV acquisition and progression, this review explores the possible effects of endemic infections on HIV susceptibility and summarizes current knowledge of the epidemiology and underlying immunological mechanisms by which endemic infections could impact HIV acquisition. A better understanding of the interaction between endemic infections and HIV may enhance HIV prevention programs in SSA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Yegorov
- 1Departments of Immunology and Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,2Department of Pedagogical Mathematics and Natural Science, Faculty of Education and Humanities, Suleyman Demirel University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Vineet Joag
- 3Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
| | - Ronald M Galiwango
- 1Departments of Immunology and Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sara V Good
- 4Genetics & Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, ON Canada.,5Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB Canada
| | | | - Rupert Kaul
- 1Departments of Immunology and Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,7Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Patel EU, Kirkpatrick AR, Grabowski MK, Kigozi G, Gray RH, Prodger JL, Redd AD, Nalugoda F, Serwadda D, Wawer MJ, Quinn TC, Tobian AAR. Penile Immune Activation and Risk of HIV Shedding: A Prospective Cohort Study. Clin Infect Dis 2017; 64:776-784. [PMID: 28011606 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciw847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Genital immune activation is suspected to modulate local human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA levels and the risk of sexual HIV transmission. Methods A prospective, observational cohort study of 221 HIV-infected men undergoing male circumcision (MC) was conducted in Rakai, Uganda. Penile lavage samples collected from the coronal sulcus at baseline and 4 weekly visits after MC were assayed for pro-inflammatory cytokines and HIV RNA. The main analysis was limited to 175 men with detectable HIV plasma viral load (VL > 400 copies/mL; n = 808 visits). The primary exposures of interest were individual and total cytokine detection at the previous postoperative visit. Adjusted prevalence risk ratios (adjPRR) of detectable HIV shedding (VL > 40 copies/mL) were estimated by Poisson regression models with generalized estimating equations and robust variance estimators and included adjustment for plasma HIV VL. Findings Among men with a detectable plasma VL, penile HIV shedding was detected at 136 visits (16.8%). Detectable interleukin (IL)-1β (adjPRR = 2.14; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02-4.48), IL-6 (adjPRR = 2.24; 95% CI = 1.28-3.90), IL-8 (adjPRR = 2.42; 95% CI = 1.15-5.08), IL-10 (adjPRR = 2.51; 95% CI = 1.67-3.80), and IL-13 (adjPRR = 1.87; 95% CI = 1.15-3.03) were associated with penile HIV shedding at the subsequent visit. Men with 2-4 (adjPRR = 2.36; 95% CI = 1.08-5.14) and 5-7 (adjPRR = 3.00; 95% CI = 1.28-7.01) detectable cytokines had a greater likelihood of detectable penile HIV shedding at the subsequent visit, compared to men with ≤ 1 detectable cytokine. The total number of detectable cytokines was also associated with a higher penile log10 HIV VL at the subsequent visit among HIV shedders. Interpretation Pro-inflammatory cytokine production had a dose-dependent and temporal association with penile HIV shedding, suggesting that genital immune activation may increase the risk of sexual HIV transmission by driving local HIV replication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eshan U Patel
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Allison R Kirkpatrick
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mary Kate Grabowski
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Rakai Health Sciences Program, Entebbe, Uganda
| | | | - Ronald H Gray
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Rakai Health Sciences Program, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Jessica L Prodger
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew D Redd
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - David Serwadda
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Entebbe, Uganda.,Institute of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Maria J Wawer
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Rakai Health Sciences Program, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Thomas C Quinn
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Rakai Health Sciences Program, Entebbe, Uganda.,Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Aaron A R Tobian
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Prodger JL, Gray RH, Shannon B, Shahabi K, Kong X, Grabowski K, Kigozi G, Nalugoda F, Serwadda D, Wawer MJ, Reynolds SJ, Liu CM, Tobian AAR, Kaul R. Chemokine Levels in the Penile Coronal Sulcus Correlate with HIV-1 Acquisition and Are Reduced by Male Circumcision in Rakai, Uganda. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1006025. [PMID: 27898732 PMCID: PMC5127584 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Individual susceptibility to HIV is heterogeneous, but the biological mechanisms explaining differences are incompletely understood. We hypothesized that penile inflammation may increase HIV susceptibility in men by recruiting permissive CD4 T cells, and that male circumcision may decrease HIV susceptibility in part by reducing genital inflammation. We used multi-array technology to measure levels of seven cytokines in coronal sulcus (penile) swabs collected longitudinally from initially uncircumcised men enrolled in a randomized trial of circumcision in Rakai, Uganda. Coronal sulcus cytokine levels were compared between men who acquired HIV and controls who remained seronegative. Cytokines were also compared within men before and after circumcision, and correlated with CD4 T cells subsets in foreskin tissue. HIV acquisition was associated with detectable coronal sulcus Interleukin-8 (IL-8 aOR 2.26, 95%CI 1.04–6.40) and Monokine Induced by γ-interferon (MIG aOR 2.72, 95%CI 1.15–8.06) at the visit prior to seroconversion, and the odds of seroconversion increased with detection of multiple cytokines. Coronal sulcus chemokine levels were not correlated with those in the vagina of a man’s female sex partner. The detection of IL-8 in swabs was significantly reduced 6 months after circumcision (PRR 0.59, 95%CI 0.44–0.87), and continued to decline for at least two years (PRR 0.29, 95%CI 0.16–0.54). Finally, prepuce IL-8 correlated with increased HIV target cell density in foreskin tissues, including highly susceptible CD4 T cells subsets, as well as with tissue neutrophil density. Together, these data suggest that penile inflammation increases HIV susceptibility and is reduced by circumcision. The per-contact risk of infection with HIV through sexual exposure is low and highly variable. Understanding the biological basis for this variability could help in the development of new methods to prevent infection. There is some evidence that penile inflammation, even in the absence of any clinical symptoms, may increase HIV-susceptibility by recruiting CD4 T cells, the immune cell type that is the principal target of HIV. We analyzed soluble inflammatory mediators in prepuce swabs collected longitudinally from initially HIV-negative men enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of adult circumcision. We found that these inflammatory mediators were elevated in men who went on to acquire HIV. We also found that higher levels of these mediators were associated with an increased density of HIV-susceptible target cells in the underlying foreskin tissue and that circumcision reduced their levels, which may help to explain why circumcision reduces HIV risk by 60% or more. Together, these data suggest that penile inflammation, in the absence of genital infections, increases HIV susceptibility and is reduced by adult male circumcision.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Prodger
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ronald H Gray
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.,Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda
| | - Brett Shannon
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Xiangrong Kong
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kate Grabowski
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | | | | | - Maria J Wawer
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.,Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda
| | - Steven J Reynolds
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda.,Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.,Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Cindy M Liu
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia.,Translational Genomics Research Institute, Flagstaff, Arizona
| | - Aaron A R Tobian
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda.,Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Rupert Kaul
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Cheeseman HM, Carias AM, Evans AB, Olejniczak NJ, Ziprin P, King DFL, Hope TJ, Shattock RJ. Expression Profile of Human Fc Receptors in Mucosal Tissue: Implications for Antibody-Dependent Cellular Effector Functions Targeting HIV-1 Transmission. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0154656. [PMID: 27164006 PMCID: PMC4862624 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of new Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-1 infections are acquired via sexual transmission at mucosal surfaces. Partial efficacy (31.2%) of the Thai RV144 HIV-1 vaccine trial has been correlated with Antibody-dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC) mediated by non-neutralizing antibodies targeting the V1V2 region of the HIV-1 envelope. This has led to speculation that ADCC and other antibody-dependent cellular effector functions might provide an important defense against mucosal acquisition of HIV-1 infection. However, the ability of antibody-dependent cellular effector mechanisms to impact on early mucosal transmission events will depend on a variety of parameters including effector cell type, frequency, the class of Fc-Receptor (FcR) expressed, the number of FcR per cell and the glycoslyation pattern of the induced antibodies. In this study, we characterize and compare the frequency and phenotype of IgG (CD16 [FcγRIII], CD32 [FcγRII] and CD64 [FcγRI]) and IgA (CD89 [FcαR]) receptor expression on effector cells within male and female genital mucosal tissue, colorectal tissue and red blood cell-lysed whole blood. The frequency of FcR expression on CD14+ monocytic cells, myeloid dendritic cells and natural killer cells were similar across the three mucosal tissue compartments, but significantly lower when compared to the FcR expression profile of effector cells isolated from whole blood, with many cells negative for all FcRs. Of the three tissues tested, penile tissue had the highest percentage of FcR positive effector cells. Immunofluorescent staining was used to determine the location of CD14+, CD11c+ and CD56+ cells within the three mucosal tissues. We show that the majority of effector cells across the different mucosal locations reside within the subepithelial lamina propria. The potential implication of the observed FcR expression patterns on the effectiveness of FcR-dependent cellular effector functions to impact on the initial events in mucosal transmission and dissemination warrants further mechanistic studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Cheeseman
- Imperial College London, Department of Medicine, Section of Virology, Group of Mucosal Infection and Immunity, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ann M Carias
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Abbey B Evans
- Imperial College London, Department of Medicine, Section of Virology, Group of Mucosal Infection and Immunity, London, United Kingdom
| | - Natalia J Olejniczak
- Imperial College London, Department of Medicine, Section of Virology, Group of Mucosal Infection and Immunity, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Ziprin
- Imperial College London, Department of Surgery, St. Mary's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Deborah F L King
- Imperial College London, Department of Medicine, Section of Virology, Group of Mucosal Infection and Immunity, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas J Hope
- Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Cell and Molecular Biology Department, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Robin J Shattock
- Imperial College London, Department of Medicine, Section of Virology, Group of Mucosal Infection and Immunity, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Schistosoma mansoni Infection in Ugandan Men Is Associated with Increased Abundance and Function of HIV Target Cells in Blood, but Not the Foreskin: A Cross-sectional Study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0004067. [PMID: 26335139 PMCID: PMC4559468 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Schistosoma mansoni infection has been associated with an increased HIV prevalence in humans and SHIV incidence in primate models. We hypothesized that immune activation from this gastrointestinal mucosa infection would increase highly HIV-susceptible CD4 T cell subsets in the blood and the foreskin through common mucosal homing. Methodology/Principal Findings Foreskin tissue and blood were obtained from 34 HIV- and malaria-uninfected Ugandan men who volunteered for elective circumcision, 12 of whom were definitively positive for S. mansoni eggs in stool and 12 definitively negative for both S. mansoni eggs and worm antigen. Tissue and blood T cell subsets were characterized by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Th17 and Th1 cells from both the blood and foreskin expressed higher levels of CCR5 and were more activated than other CD4 T cell subsets. S. mansoni-infected men had a higher frequency of systemic Th1 cells (22.9 vs. 16.5% of blood CD4 T cells, p<0.05), Th17 cells (2.3 vs. 1.5%, p<0.05), and Th22 cells (0.5 vs. 0.3%, p<0.01) than uninfected men. Additionally, Th17 cells in the blood of S. mansoni-infected men demonstrated enhanced function (28.1 vs. 16.3% producing multiple cytokines, p = 0.046). However, these immune alterations were not observed in foreskin tissue. Conclusions/Significance S. mansoni infection was associated with an increased frequency of highly HIV-susceptible Th1, Th17 and Th22 cell subsets in the blood, but these T cell immune differences did not extend to the foreskin. S. mansoni induced changes in T cell immunology mediated through the common mucosal immune system are not likely to increase HIV susceptibility in the foreskin. Fishing communities in East Africa have a very high prevalence of HIV, and also high rates of other endemic infections such as malaria and the fluke Schistosoma mansoni. Genital infections are known to increase HIV susceptibility through the recruitment and activation of mucosal CD4 T cells to the site of HIV sexual exposure. These activated CD4 T cells are necessary for an effective host immune response but are also preferentially infected by HIV. We hypothesized that S. mansoni infection in the gut mucosa might increase recruitment and activation of HIV target cells at other mucosal sites, and thereby contribute to high HIV rates in fishing communities. We enrolled men from a fishing community in Uganda and examined the frequency of highly HIV-susceptible cell types in their blood and foreskin tissue (a main site of HIV acquisition in heterosexual men). We found that men with S. mansoni infection had a greater frequency of HIV target cells in their blood, but not their foreskin tissue, perhaps because foreskin cells did not express mucosal homing markers. It is possible that HIV target cells observed in the blood of S. mansoni-infected individuals may traffic to other mucosae, such as the vagina or gut, and so the possibility that S. mansoni infection increases risk at these sites should be explored.
Collapse
|
7
|
Rahbar A, Peredo I, Solberg NW, Taher C, Dzabic M, Xu X, Skarman P, Fornara O, Tammik C, Yaiw K, Wilhelmi V, Assinger A, Stragliotto G, Söderberg-Naucler C. Discordant humoral and cellular immune responses to Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in glioblastoma patients whose tumors are positive for CMV. Oncoimmunology 2015; 4:e982391. [PMID: 25949880 DOI: 10.4161/2162402x.2014.982391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background. Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults and is nearly always fatal. Emerging evidence suggests that human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is present in 90-100% of GBMs and that add-on antiviral treatment for HCMV show promise to improve survival. Methods. In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of valganciclovir in 42 GBM patients, blood samples were collected for analyses of HCMV DNA, RNA, reactivity against HCMV peptides, IgG, and IgM at baseline and at 3, 12, and 24 weeks of treatment. Results. All 42 tumors were positive for HCMV protein. All patients examined had at least one blood sample positive for HCMV DNA, 63% were HCMV RNA positive, and 21% were IgM positive. However, 29% of GBM patients were IgG negative for HCMV. Five of these samples were positive in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that used antigens derived from a clinical isolate. Blood T cells from 11 of 13 (85%) HCMV IgG-negative GBM patients reacted against HCMV peptides. Valganciclovir did not affect IgG titers, DNA, or RNA levels of the HCMV immediate early (HCMV IE) gene in blood. Conclusion. In GBM patients, HCMV activity is higher than in healthy controls and serology is a poor test to define previous or active HCMV infection in these patients.
Collapse
Key Words
- ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- FACS, flow cytometry analyses
- FITC, fluorescein isothiocyanate
- GBM, glioblastoma
- HCMV IE, human Cytomegalovirus-immediate early
- HCMV, human Cytomegalovirus
- HIV, human immunodeficiency virus
- HSV, herpes simplex virus
- PBMC, Peripheral blood mononuclear cells
- PBS, Phosphate buffered saline
- PCR, polymerase chain reaction
- SEB, staphylococcal snterotoxin B
- VIGAS study, Efficacy and Safety of Valcyte® as an Add-on Therapy in Patients with Malignant Glioblastoma and cytomegalovirus infection
- Valcyte
- cytomegalovirus
- glioblastoma
- peptides stimulation
- serology
- valganciclovir
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Afsar Rahbar
- Department of Medicine; Solna; Center for Molecular Medicine; Karolinska Institute ; Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Inti Peredo
- Departments of Neurosurgery; Karolinska University Hospital ; Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nina Wolmer Solberg
- Department of Medicine; Solna; Center for Molecular Medicine; Karolinska Institute ; Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Chato Taher
- Department of Medicine; Solna; Center for Molecular Medicine; Karolinska Institute ; Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mensur Dzabic
- Department of Medicine; Solna; Center for Molecular Medicine; Karolinska Institute ; Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xinling Xu
- Department of Medicine; Solna; Center for Molecular Medicine; Karolinska Institute ; Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Petra Skarman
- Department of Medicine; Solna; Center for Molecular Medicine; Karolinska Institute ; Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olesja Fornara
- Department of Medicine; Solna; Center for Molecular Medicine; Karolinska Institute ; Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Tammik
- Department of Medicine; Solna; Center for Molecular Medicine; Karolinska Institute ; Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Koon Yaiw
- Department of Medicine; Solna; Center for Molecular Medicine; Karolinska Institute ; Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vanessa Wilhelmi
- Department of Medicine; Solna; Center for Molecular Medicine; Karolinska Institute ; Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alice Assinger
- Department of Medicine; Solna; Center for Molecular Medicine; Karolinska Institute ; Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Cecilia Söderberg-Naucler
- Department of Medicine; Solna; Center for Molecular Medicine; Karolinska Institute ; Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|