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Taus E, Hofmann C, Ibarrondo FJ, Gong LS, Hausner MA, Fulcher JA, Krogstad P, Kitchen SG, Ferbas KG, Tobin NH, Rimoin AW, Aldrovandi GM, Yang OO. Persistent memory despite rapid contraction of circulating T Cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1100594. [PMID: 36860850 PMCID: PMC9968837 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1100594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction While antibodies raised by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines have had compromised efficacy to prevent breakthrough infections due to both limited durability and spike sequence variation, the vaccines have remained highly protective against severe illness. This protection is mediated through cellular immunity, particularly CD8+ T cells, and lasts at least a few months. Although several studies have documented rapidly waning levels of vaccine-elicited antibodies, the kinetics of T cell responses have not been well defined. Methods Interferon (IFN)-γ enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) assay and intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) were utilized to assess cellular immune responses (in isolated CD8+ T cells or whole peripheral blood mononuclear cells, PBMCs) to pooled peptides spanning spike. ELISA was performed to quantitate serum antibodies against the spike receptor binding domain (RBD). Results In two persons receiving primary vaccination, tightly serially evaluated frequencies of anti-spike CD8+ T cells using ELISpot assays revealed strikingly short-lived responses, peaking after about 10 days and becoming undetectable by about 20 days after each dose. This pattern was also observed in cross-sectional analyses of persons after the first and second doses during primary vaccination with mRNA vaccines. In contrast, cross-sectional analysis of COVID-19-recovered persons using the same assay showed persisting responses in most persons through 45 days after symptom onset. Cross-sectional analysis using IFN-γ ICS of PBMCs from persons 13 to 235 days after mRNA vaccination also demonstrated undetectable CD8+ T cells against spike soon after vaccination, and extended the observation to include CD4+ T cells. However, ICS analyses of the same PBMCs after culturing with the mRNA-1273 vaccine in vitro showed CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses that were readily detectable in most persons out to 235 days after vaccination. Discussion Overall, we find that detection of spike-targeted responses from mRNA vaccines using typical IFN-γ assays is remarkably transient, which may be a function of the mRNA vaccine platform and an intrinsic property of the spike protein as an immune target. However, robust memory, as demonstrated by capacity for rapid expansion of T cells responding to spike, is maintained at least several months after vaccination. This is consistent with the clinical observation of vaccine protection from severe illness lasting months. The level of such memory responsiveness required for clinical protection remains to be defined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellie Taus
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Christian Hofmann
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - F Javier Ibarrondo
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Laura S Gong
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Mary Ann Hausner
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jennifer A Fulcher
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Paul Krogstad
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Scott G Kitchen
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kathie G Ferbas
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Nicole H Tobin
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Anne W Rimoin
- Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Grace M Aldrovandi
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Otto O Yang
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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2
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Taus E, Hofmann C, Ibarrondo FJ, Hausner MA, Fulcher JA, Krogstad P, Ferbas KG, Tobin NH, Rimoin AW, Aldrovandi GM, Yang OO. Dominant CD8 + T Cell Nucleocapsid Targeting in SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Broad Spike Targeting From Vaccination. Front Immunol 2022; 13:835830. [PMID: 35273611 PMCID: PMC8902813 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.835830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
CD8+ T cells have key protective roles in many viral infections. While an overall Th1-biased cellular immune response against SARS-CoV-2 has been demonstrated, most reports of anti-SARS-CoV-2 cellular immunity have evaluated bulk T cells using pools of predicted epitopes, without clear delineation of the CD8+ subset and its magnitude and targeting. In recently infected persons (mean 29.8 days after COVID-19 symptom onset), we confirm a Th1 bias (and a novel IL-4-producing population of unclear significance) by flow cytometry, which does not correlate to antibody responses against the receptor binding domain. Evaluating isolated CD8+ T cells in more detail by IFN-γ ELISpot assays, responses against spike, nucleocapsid, matrix, and envelope proteins average 396, 901, 296, and 0 spot-forming cells (SFC) per million, targeting 1.4, 1.5, 0.59, and 0.0 epitope regions respectively. Nucleocapsid targeting is dominant in terms of magnitude, breadth, and density of targeting. The magnitude of responses drops rapidly post-infection; nucleocapsid targeting is most sustained, and vaccination selectively boosts spike targeting. In SARS-CoV-2-naïve persons, evaluation of the anti-spike CD8+ T cell response soon after vaccination (mean 11.3 days) yields anti-spike CD8+ T cell responses averaging 2,463 SFC/million against 4.2 epitope regions, and targeting mirrors that seen in infected persons. These findings provide greater clarity on CD8+ T cell anti-SARS-CoV-2 targeting, breadth, and persistence, suggesting that nucleocapsid inclusion in vaccines could broaden coverage and durability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellie Taus
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Christian Hofmann
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Francisco Javier Ibarrondo
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Mary Ann Hausner
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jennifer A. Fulcher
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Paul Krogstad
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kathie G. Ferbas
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Nicole H. Tobin
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Anne W. Rimoin
- Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Grace M. Aldrovandi
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Otto O. Yang
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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3
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Kim JY, Lei Z, Maienschein-Cline M, Chlipala GE, Balamurugan A, McDiarmid SV, Azari K, Yang OO. Longitudinal Analysis of the T-cell Receptor Repertoire in Graft-infiltrating Lymphocytes Following Hand Transplantation. Transplantation 2021; 105:1502-1509. [PMID: 33208695 PMCID: PMC8221714 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000003535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND T lymphocyte-mediated acute rejection is a significant complication following solid organ transplantation. Standard methods of monitoring for acute rejection rely on assessing histological tissue damage but do not define the immunopathogenesis. Additionally, current therapies for rejection broadly blunt cellular immunity, creating a high risk for opportunistic infections. There is, therefore, a need to better understand the process of acute cellular rejection to help develop improved prognostic tests and narrowly targeted therapies. METHODS Through next-generation sequencing, we characterized and compared the clonal T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoires of graft-infiltrating lymphocytes (GILs) and blood-derived lymphocytes from a hand transplant recipient over 420 days following transplantation. We also tracked the TCR clonal persistence and V beta (BV) gene usage, evaluating overlap between these 2 compartments. RESULTS TCR repertoires of blood and GIL populations remained distinct throughout the sampling period, and differential BV usage was consistently seen between these compartments. GIL TCR clones persisted over time and were seen in only limited frequency in the blood T-lymphocyte populations. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that blood monitoring of TCR clones does not reveal the pathogenic process of acute cellular rejection in transplanted tissue. GILs show clonal persistence with biased BV usage, suggesting that tissue TCR clonal monitoring could be useful, although a deeper understanding is necessary to prognosticate rejection based on TCR clonal repertoires. Finally, the distinct TCR BV usage bias in GILs raises the possibility for prevention and therapy of acute cellular rejection based on targeting of specific TCR clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Y. Kim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, IL
| | - Zhengdeng Lei
- Research Informatics Core, Research Resources Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Mark Maienschein-Cline
- Research Informatics Core, Research Resources Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - George E. Chlipala
- Research Informatics Core, Research Resources Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Arumugam Balamurugan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Sue V. McDiarmid
- Department of Pediatrics, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Surgery, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Kodi Azari
- Department of Surgery, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Otto O. Yang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
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Munusamy Ponnan S, Thiruvengadam K, Kathirvel S, Shankar J, Rajaraman A, Mathaiyan M, Dinesha TR, Poongulali S, Saravanan S, Murugavel KG, Swaminathan S, Tripathy SP, Neogi U, Velu V, Hanna LE. Elevated Numbers of HIV-Specific Poly-Functional CD8 + T Cells With Stem Cell-Like and Follicular Homing Phenotypes in HIV-Exposed Seronegative Individuals. Front Immunol 2021; 12:638144. [PMID: 33889151 PMCID: PMC8056154 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.638144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-specific CD8+ T cells are known to play a key role in viral control during acute and chronic HIV infection. Although many studies have demonstrated the importance of HIV-specific CD8+ T cells in viral control, its correlation with protection against HIV infection remains incompletely understood. To better understand the nature of the immune response that contributes to the early control of HIV infection, we analyzed the phenotype, distribution and function of anti-viral CD8+ T cells in a cohort of HIV-exposed seronegative (HESN) women, and compared them with healthy controls and HIV-infected individuals. Further, we evaluated the in vitro viral inhibition activity of CD8+ T cells against diverse HIV-1 strains. We found that the HESN group had significantly higher levels of CD8+ T cells that express T-stem cell-like (TSCM) and follicular homing (CXCR5+) phenotype with more effector like characteristics as compared to healthy controls. Further, we observed that the HESN population had a higher frequency of HIV-specific poly-functional CD8+ T cells with robust in vitro virus inhibiting capacity against different clades of HIV. Overall, our results demonstrate that the HESN population has elevated levels of HIV-specific poly-functional CD8+ T cells with robust virus inhibiting ability and express elevated levels of markers pertaining to TSCM and follicular homing phenotype. These results demonstrate that future vaccine and therapeutic strategies should focus on eliciting these critical CD8+ T cell subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivasankaran Munusamy Ponnan
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India.,Centre for Infectious Disease Research, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India
| | - Kannan Thiruvengadam
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Sujitha Kathirvel
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Janani Shankar
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Akshaya Rajaraman
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Manikannan Mathaiyan
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | | | - Selvamuthu Poongulali
- Chennai Antiviral Research and Treatment Centre and Clinical Research Site (CART CRS), Infectious Diseases Medical Center, Voluntary Health Services (VHS), Chennai, India
| | | | | | - Soumya Swaminathan
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Srikanth Prasad Tripathy
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
| | - Ujjwal Neogi
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vijayakumar Velu
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Luke Elizabeth Hanna
- National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, India
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5
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review summarizes our current understanding of HIV-1-specific T-cell responses in mucosal tissues, emphasizing recent work and specifically highlighting papers published over the past 18 months. RECENT FINDINGS Recent work has improved the standardization of tissue sampling approaches and provided new insights on the abundance, phenotype and distribution of HIV-1-specific T-cell populations in mucosal tissues. In addition, it has recently been established that some lymphocytes exist in tissues as "permanent resident" memory cells that differ from their counterparts in blood. SUMMARY HIV-1-specific T-cell responses have been extensively characterized; however, the vast majority of reports have focused on T-cells isolated from peripheral blood. Mucosal tissues of the genitourinary and gastrointestinal tracts serve as the primary sites of HIV-1 transmission, and provide "front line" barrier defenses against HIV-1 and other pathogens. In addition, the gastrointestinal tract remains a significant viral reservoir throughout the chronic phase of infection. Tissue-based immune responses may be critical in fighting infection, and understanding these defenses may lead to improved vaccines and immunotherapeutic strategies.
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6
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Gebara NY, El Kamari V, Rizk N. HIV-1 elite controllers: an immunovirological review and clinical perspectives. J Virus Erad 2019; 5:163-166. [PMID: 31700663 PMCID: PMC6816117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV type 1 (HIV-1) elite controllers (ECs) represent a rare group of individuals with an ability to maintain an undetectable HIV-1 viral load overtime in the absence of previous antiretroviral therapy. The mechanisms associated with this paradigm remain not clearly defined. However, loss of virological control, morbidity and mortality persist in these individuals, such as progress to AIDS-defining conditions together with persistent high rate of immune activation. Further insight into potential therapeutic options is therefore warranted. In this review, we discuss recent data on the type of immune responses understood to be associated with chronic virological control, the potential for disease progression and therapeutic options in ECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nour Y Gebara
- Faculty of Medicine,
American University of Beirut,
Medical Center,
Lebanon
| | - Vanessa El Kamari
- Division Reserve University,
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Case Western University,
OH,
USA
| | - Nesrine Rizk
- Faculty of Medicine,
American University of Beirut,
Medical Center,
Lebanon,Department of Internal Medicine,
Division of Infectious Diseases,
American University of Beirut Medical Center,
Lebanon,Corresponding author: Nesrine Rizk
Department of Internal Medicine,
Division of Infectious Diseases,
American University of Beirut Medical Center,
PO Box 11-0236, Riad El Solh 1107 2020,
Beirut,
Lebanon
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8
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Abstract
As our understanding of mucosal immunity increases, it is becoming clear that the host response to HIV-1 is more complex and nuanced than originally believed. The mucosal landscape is populated with a variety of specialized cell types whose functions include combating infectious agents while preserving commensal microbiota, maintaining barrier integrity, and ensuring immune homeostasis. Advances in multiparameter flow cytometry, gene expression analysis and bioinformatics have allowed more detailed characterization of these cell types and their roles in host defense than was previously possible. This review provides an overview of existing literature on immunity to HIV-1 and SIVmac in mucosal tissues of the female reproductive tract and the gastrointestinal tract, focusing on major effector cell populations and briefly summarizing new information on tissue resident memory T cells, Treg, Th17, Th22 and innate lymphocytes (ILC), subsets that have been studied primarily in the gastrointestinal mucosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara L Shacklett
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
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9
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Balamurugan A, Ng HL, Yang OO. Cross-Reactivity against Multiple HIV-1 Epitopes Is Characteristic of HIV-1-Specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Clones. J Virol 2018; 92:e00617-18. [PMID: 29899094 PMCID: PMC6069174 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00617-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Although a high level of promiscuity for heterologous epitopes is believed to exist for cellular immunity, limited data explore this issue for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-specific CD8+ T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. Here, we found an unexpected degree of heterologous cross-reactivity against HIV-1 epitopes, in addition to the targeted index epitope. Most CTL clones screened cross-reacted against other known HIV-1 epitopes of the same major histocompatibility complex type I (MHC-I) restriction, up to 40% of tested nonindex epitopes in some cases. The observed cross-reactivity was universally lower avidity than recognition of the index epitope when examined for several A*02- and B*57-restricted CTL clones, demonstrating that the high concentrations of exogenous epitope typically used for screening of CTL responses are prone to detect such cross-reactivity spuriously. In agreement with this, we found that these cross-reactive responses do not appear to mediate CTL activity against HIV-1-infected cells. Overall, our data indicate that low-level cross-reactivity is remarkably common for HIV-1-specific CTLs. The role of this phenomenon is unclear, but low-avidity interactions have been shown to foster homeostatic proliferation of memory T cells.IMPORTANCE This study raises two issues related to HIV-1-specific CTL responses. These are key immune responses that retard disease progression in infected persons that are highly relevant to immunotherapies and vaccines for HIV-1. First, we make the novel observation that these responses are promiscuous and that CTLs targeting one epitope may cross-recognize other, completely distinct epitopes in the virus. While these are low-avidity interactions that do not appear to contribute directly to the antiviral activity of CTLs, this raises interesting biologic implications regarding the purpose of the phenomenon, such as providing a stimulus for these responses to persist long term. Second, the data raise a technical caveat to detection of CTL responses against particular epitopes, suggesting that some methodologies may unintentionally detect cross-reactivity and overestimate responses against an epitope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arumugam Balamurugan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California USA
- UCLA AIDS Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Hwee L Ng
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California USA
- UCLA AIDS Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Otto O Yang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California USA
- UCLA AIDS Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Los Angeles, California, USA
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10
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Kim J, De La Cruz J, Lam K, Ng H, Daar ES, Balamurugan A, Yang OO. CD8 + Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Responses and Viral Epitope Escape in Acute HIV-1 Infection. Viral Immunol 2018; 31:525-536. [PMID: 30059271 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2018.0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epitope escape from HIV-1-targeted CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses occurs rapidly after acute infection and contributes to the eventual failure of effective immune control of HIV-1 infection. Because the early CTL response is key in determining HIV-1 disease outcome, studying the process of epitope escape is crucial for understanding what leads to failure of immune control in acute HIV-1 infection and will provide important implications for HIV-1 vaccine design. HIV-1-specific CD8+ T lymphocyte responses against viral epitopes were mapped in six acutely infected individuals, and the magnitudes of these responses were measured longitudinally during acute infection. The evolution of autologous circulating viral epitopes was determined in four of these subjects. In-depth testing of CD8+ T lymphocyte responses against index and all autologous-detected variant epitopes was performed in one subject. Among the four individuals examined, 10 of a total of 35 CD8+ T cell responses within Gag, Pol, and Nef showed evidence of epitope escape. CTL responses with viral epitope variant evolution were shown in one subject, and this evolution occurred with and without measurable CTL responses against epitope variants. These results demonstrate a dynamic period of viral epitope evolution in early HIV-1 infection due to CD8+ CTL response pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Kim
- 1 Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California , Los Angeles, California
| | - Justin De La Cruz
- 1 Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California , Los Angeles, California
| | - Karen Lam
- 2 Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California , Los Angeles, California
| | - Hwee Ng
- 1 Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California , Los Angeles, California
| | - Eric S Daar
- 3 Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute , Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California
| | - Arumugam Balamurugan
- 1 Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California , Los Angeles, California
| | - Otto O Yang
- 1 Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California , Los Angeles, California.,2 Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California , Los Angeles, California.,4 AIDS Healthcare Foundation , Los Angeles, California
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11
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HIV-1 Epitope Variability Is Associated with T Cell Receptor Repertoire Instability and Breadth. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.00771-17. [PMID: 28592539 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00771-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutational escape of HIV-1 from HIV-1-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes (CTLs) is a major barrier for effective immune control. Each epitope typically is targeted by multiple clones with distinct T cell receptors (TCRs). While the clonal repertoire may be important for containing epitope variation, determinants of its composition are poorly understood. We investigate the clonal repertoire of 29 CTL responses against 23 HIV-1 epitopes longitudinally in nine chronically infected untreated subjects with plasma viremia of <3,000 RNA copies/ml over 17 to 179 weeks. The composition of TCRs targeting each epitope varied considerably in stability over time, although clonal stability (Sorensen index) was not significantly time dependent within this interval. However, TCR stability inversely correlated with epitope variability in the Los Alamos HIV-1 Sequence Database, consistent with TCR evolution being driven by epitope variation. Finally, a robust inverse correlation of TCR breadth against each epitope versus epitope variability further suggested that this variability drives TCR repertoire diversification. In the context of studies demonstrating rapidly shifting HIV-1 sequences in vivo, our findings support a variably dynamic process of shifting CTL clonality lagging in tandem with viral evolution and suggest that preventing escape of HIV-1 may require coordinated direction of the CTL clonal repertoire to simultaneously block escape pathways.IMPORTANCE Mutational escape of HIV-1 from HIV-1-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes (CTLs) is a major barrier to effective immune control. The number of distinct CTL clones targeting each epitope is proposed to be an important factor, but the determinants are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the clonal stability and number of clones for the CTL response against an epitope are inversely associated with the general variability of the epitope. These results show that CTLs constantly lag epitope mutation, suggesting that preventing HIV-1 escape may require coordinated direction of the CTL clonal repertoire to simultaneously block escape pathways.
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12
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES AIDS is caused by CD4 T-cell depletion. Although combination antiretroviral therapy can restore blood T-cell numbers, the clonal diversity of the reconstituting cells, critical for immunocompetence, is not well defined. METHODS We performed an extensive analysis of parameters of thymic function in perinatally HIV-1-infected (n = 39) and control (n = 28) participants ranging from 13 to 23 years of age. CD4 T cells including naive (CD27 CD45RA) and recent thymic emigrant (RTE) (CD31/CD45RA) cells, were quantified by flow cytometry. Deep sequencing was used to examine T-cell receptor (TCR) sequence diversity in sorted RTE CD4 T cells. RESULTS Infected participants had reduced CD4 T-cell levels with predominant depletion of the memory subset and preservation of naive cells. RTE CD4 T-cell levels were normal in most infected individuals, and enhanced thymopoiesis was indicated by higher proportions of CD4 T cells containing TCR recombination excision circles. Memory CD4 T-cell depletion was highly associated with CD8 T-cell activation in HIV-1-infected persons and plasma interlekin-7 levels were correlated with naive CD4 T cells, suggesting activation-driven loss and compensatory enhancement of thymopoiesis. Deep sequencing of CD4 T-cell receptor sequences in well compensated infected persons demonstrated supranormal diversity, providing additional evidence of enhanced thymic output. CONCLUSION Despite up to two decades of infection, many individuals have remarkable thymic reserve to compensate for ongoing CD4 T-cell loss, although there is ongoing viral replication and immune activation despite combination antiretroviral therapy. The longer term sustainability of this physiology remains to be determined.
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13
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Clonal CD8+ T Cell Persistence and Variable Gene Usage Bias in a Human Transplanted Hand. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136235. [PMID: 26287728 PMCID: PMC4546120 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune prophylaxis and treatment of transplanted tissue rejection act indiscriminately, risking serious infections and malignancies. Although animal data suggest that cellular immune responses causing rejection may be rather narrow and predictable based on genetic background, there are only limited data regarding the clonal breadth of anti-donor responses in humans after allogeneic organ transplantation. We evaluated the graft-infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes in skin punch biopsies of a transplanted hand over 178 days. Profiling of T cell receptor (TCR) variable gene usage and size distribution of the infiltrating cells revealed marked skewing of the TCR repertoire indicating oligoclonality, but relatively normal distributions in the blood. Although sampling limitation prevented complete assessment of the TCR repertoire, sequencing further identified 11 TCR clonal expansions that persisted through varying degrees of clinical rejection and immunosuppressive therapy. These 11 clones were limited to three TCR beta chain variable (BV) gene families. Overall, these data indicate significant oligoclonality and likely restricted BV gene usage of alloreactive CD8+ T lymphocytes, and suggest that changes in rejection status are more due to varying regulation of their activity or number rather than shifts in the clonal populations in the transplanted organ. Given that controlled animal models produce predictable BV usage in T lymphocytes mediating rejection, understanding the determinants of TCR gene usage associated with rejection in humans may have application in specifically targeted immunotherapy.
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Preza GC, Yang OO, Elliott J, Anton PA, Ochoa MT. T lymphocyte density and distribution in human colorectal mucosa, and inefficiency of current cell isolation protocols. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0122723. [PMID: 25856343 PMCID: PMC4391713 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 02/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucosal tissues are critical immune effector sites containing complex populations of leukocytes in a tissue microenvironment that remains incompletely understood. We identify and quantify in human distal colorectal tissue absolute mucosal CD3+ lymphocytes, including CD4+ and CD8+ subsets, by direct visualization using immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), and an automated counting protocol (r2=0.90). Sigmoid and rectal mucosal tissues are both densely packed with T lymphocytes in the mucosal compartment. Both compartments had similar densities of CD3+ T lymphocytes with 37,400 ± 2,801 cells/mm3 and 33,700 ± 4,324 cell/mm3, respectively. Sigmoid mucosa contained 57% CD3+CD4+ and 40% CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes which calculates to 21,300 ± 1,476/mm3 and 15,000 ± 275/mm3 T lymphocytes, respectively. Rectal mucosa had 57% CD3+CD4+ and 42% CD3+CD8+ or 21,577 ± 332, and 17,090 ± 1,206 cells/mm3, respectively. By comparison, sigmoid mucosal biopsies subjected to conventional collagenase digestion, mononuclear cell (MMC) isolation and staining for flow cytometry yielded 4,549 ± 381/mm3 and 2,708 ± 245/mm3 CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. These data suggest only ~20.7% recovery compared to IHC results for these markers. Further studies will determine if this reflects a selective bias in only CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells or can be generalized to all flow-analyzed cells from mucosal tissues for phenotyping and functional testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Cuevas Preza
- Department of Dermatology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Otto O. Yang
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- UCLA AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Julie Elliott
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- UCLA AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Peter A. Anton
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- UCLA AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Maria T. Ochoa
- Department of Dermatology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Yang OO, Ibarrondo FJ, Price C, Hultin LE, Elliott J, Hultin PM, Shih R, Hausner MA, Ng HL, Hoffman J, Jamieson BD, Anton PA. Differential blood and mucosal immune responses against an HIV-1 vaccine administered via inguinal or deltoid injection. PLoS One 2014; 9:e88621. [PMID: 24558403 PMCID: PMC3928250 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2013] [Accepted: 01/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucosal immunity is central to sexual transmission and overall pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection, but the ability of vaccines to induce immune responses in mucosal tissue compartments is poorly defined. Because macaque vaccine studies suggest that inguinal (versus limb) vaccination may better target sexually-exposed mucosa, we performed a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase I trial in HIV-1-uninfected volunteers, using the recombinant Canarypox (CP) vaccine vCP205 delivered by different routes. 12 persons received vaccine and 6 received placebo, divided evenly between deltoid-intramuscular (deltoid-IM) or inguinal-subcutaneous (inguinal-SC) injection routes. The most significant safety events were injection site reactions (Grade 3) in one inguinal vaccinee. CP-specific antibodies were detected in the blood of all 12 vaccinees by Day 24, while HIV-1-specific antibodies were observed in the blood and gut mucosa of 1/9 and 4/9 evaluated vaccinees respectively, with gut antibodies appearing earlier in inguinal vaccinees (24–180 versus 180–365 days). HIV-1-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes (CTLs) were observed in 7/12 vaccinees, and blood and gut targeting were distinct. Within blood, both deltoid and inguinal responders had detectable CTL responses by 17–24 days; inguinal responders had early responses (within 10 days) while deltoid responders had later responses (24–180 days) in gut mucosa. Our results demonstrate relative safety of inguinal vaccination and qualitative or quantitative compartmentalization of immune responses between blood and gut mucosa, and highlight the importance of not only evaluating early blood responses to HIV-1 vaccines but also mucosal responses over time. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00076817
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Affiliation(s)
- Otto O. Yang
- Department of Medicine and University of California Los Angeles AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - F. Javier Ibarrondo
- Department of Medicine and University of California Los Angeles AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Charles Price
- Department of Medicine and University of California Los Angeles AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Lance E. Hultin
- Department of Medicine and University of California Los Angeles AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Julie Elliott
- Department of Medicine and University of California Los Angeles AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Patricia M. Hultin
- Department of Medicine and University of California Los Angeles AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Roger Shih
- Department of Medicine and University of California Los Angeles AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Mary Ann Hausner
- Department of Medicine and University of California Los Angeles AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Hwee L. Ng
- Department of Medicine and University of California Los Angeles AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Hoffman
- Department of Medicine and University of California Los Angeles AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Beth D. Jamieson
- Department of Medicine and University of California Los Angeles AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Peter A. Anton
- Department of Medicine and University of California Los Angeles AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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Jespers V, Harandi AM, Hinkula J, Medaglini D, Grand RL, Stahl-Hennig C, Bogers W, Habib RE, Wegmann F, Fraser C, Cranage M, Shattock RJ, Spetz AL. Assessment of mucosal immunity to HIV-1. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 9:381-94. [DOI: 10.1586/erv.10.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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HIV-1 Nef sequence and functional compartmentalization in the gut is not due to differential cytotoxic T lymphocyte selective pressure. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75620. [PMID: 24058696 PMCID: PMC3772905 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2013] [Accepted: 08/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut is the largest lymphoid organ in the body and a site of active HIV-1 replication and immune surveillance. The gut is a reservoir of persistent infection in some individuals with fully suppressed plasma viremia on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) although the cause of this persistence is unknown. The HIV-1 accessory protein Nef contributes to persistence through multiple functions including immune evasion and increasing infectivity. Previous studies showed that Nef’s function is shaped by cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses and that there are distinct populations of Nef within tissue compartments. We asked whether Nef’s sequence and/or function are compartmentalized in the gut and how compartmentalization relates to local CTL immune responses. Primary nef quasispecies from paired plasma and sigmoid colon biopsies from chronically infected subjects not on therapy were sequenced and cloned into Env− Vpu− pseudotyped reporter viruses. CTL responses were mapped by IFN-γ ELISpot using expanded CD8+ cells from blood and gut with pools of overlapping peptides covering the entire HIV proteome. CD4 and MHC Class I Nef-mediated downregulation was measured by flow cytometry. Multiple tests indicated compartmentalization of nef sequences in 5 of 8 subjects. There was also compartmentalization of function with MHC Class I downregulation relatively well preserved, but significant loss of CD4 downregulation specifically by gut quasispecies in 5 of 7 subjects. There was no compartmentalization of CTL responses in 6 of 8 subjects, and the selective pressure on quasispecies correlated with the magnitude CTL response regardless of location. These results demonstrate that Nef adapts via diverse pathways to local selective pressures within gut mucosa, which may be predominated by factors other than CTL responses such as target cell availability. The finding of a functionally distinct population within gut mucosa offers some insight into how HIV-1 may persist in the gut despite fully suppressed plasma viremia on cART.
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Bere A, Denny L, Naicker P, Burgers WA, Passmore JAS. HIV-specific T-cell responses detected in the genital tract of chronically HIV-infected women are largely monofunctional. Immunology 2013; 139:342-51. [PMID: 23374084 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2012] [Revised: 01/16/2013] [Accepted: 01/25/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-specific T cells that produce interferon-γ (IFN-γ) are present in the genital tract of HIV-infected women although these do not provide protection against genital HIV shedding. Because polyfunctional HIV-specific T cells have been implicated in better HIV control than those with a single function, this study aimed to investigate whether polyfunctional T cells were present at the female genital mucosa. Cervical cytobrush-derived T cells were obtained from chronically HIV-infected women and compared with blood. CD3(+) T cells from both compartments were expanded with Dynal anti-CD3/CD28 expander beads for 14 days and flow cytometry was used to evaluate four T-cell functions (CD107a, IFN-γ, tumour necrosis factor-α and macrophage inflammatory protein-1β) from 16 women. The majority of Gag-specific T-cell responses in the female genital tract were monofunctional, although low frequencies of HIV Gag-specific polyfunctional CD8(+) T cells were detected at the cervix in 81·3% (13/16) of women. The ability of CD8(+) T cells at both the cervix and in blood to express CD107a and to exhibit polyfunctional responses (two or more functions) following Gag stimulation was inversely associated with plasma viral load and positively associated with blood CD4 counts, suggesting that clinical status impacted on the functionality of HIV-specific T cells at the mucosa, in a similar way to blood. HIV Gag-specific cervical T cells were largely monofunctional. Polyfunctional T cells were detected at the cervix in women with high blood CD4 count and low plasma viral load but these did not protect from HIV genital shedding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred Bere
- Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Ibarrondo FJ, Wilson SB, Hultin LE, Shih R, Hausner MA, Hultin PM, Anton PA, Jamieson BD, Yang OO. Preferential depletion of gut CD4-expressing iNKT cells contributes to systemic immune activation in HIV-1 infection. Mucosal Immunol 2013; 6:591-600. [PMID: 23149661 PMCID: PMC3865278 DOI: 10.1038/mi.2012.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Chronic inappropriate immune activation is the central defect-driving loss of CD4(+) T helper cells and progression to AIDS in persons with HIV-1 infection, but the mechanisms remain controversial. We examined key regulatory invariant receptor natural killer T (iNKT) cells in the gut, the largest reservoir of lymphocytes and a key arena of HIV-1 pathogenesis. In healthy control persons, the anti-inflammatory CD4(+) iNKT-cell subset predominated over the pro-inflammatory CD4(-) iNKT-cell subset in the gut, but not in the blood, compartment. HIV-1 infection resulted in a preferential loss of this anti-inflammatory CD4(+) iNKT-cell subset within the gut. The degree of loss of the CD4(+) iNKT-cell subset in the gut, but not in the blood, correlated to the systemic immune activation and exhaustion that have been linked to disease progression. These results suggest a potentially important contribution of gut iNKT-cell imbalance in determining the systemic immune activation that is the hallmark of HIV-1 pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- FJ Ibarrondo
- Department of Medicine and UCLA AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - SB Wilson
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - LE Hultin
- Department of Medicine and UCLA AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - R Shih
- Department of Medicine and UCLA AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - MA Hausner
- Department of Medicine and UCLA AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - PM Hultin
- Department of Medicine and UCLA AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - PA Anton
- Department of Medicine and UCLA AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - BD Jamieson
- Department of Medicine and UCLA AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - OO Yang
- Department of Medicine and UCLA AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Genovese L, Nebuloni M, Alfano M. Cell-Mediated Immunity in Elite Controllers Naturally Controlling HIV Viral Load. Front Immunol 2013; 4:86. [PMID: 23577012 PMCID: PMC3620550 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2013.00086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2012] [Accepted: 03/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The natural course of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is characterized by high viral load, depletion of immune cells, and immunodeficiency, ultimately leading to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome phase and the occurrence of opportunistic infections and diseases. Since the discovery of HIV in the early 1980s a naturally selected population of infected individuals has been emerged in the last years, characterized by being infected for many years, with viremia constantly below detectable level and poor depletion of immune cells. These individuals are classified as “elite controllers (EC) or suppressors” and do not develop disease in the absence of anti-retroviral therapy. Unveiling host factors and immune responses responsible for the elite status will likely provide clues for the design of therapeutic vaccines and functional cures. Scope of this review was to examine and discuss differences of the cell-mediated immune responses between HIV+ individuals with disease progression and EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Genovese
- AIDS Immunopathogenesis Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute Milan, Italy
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21
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Sanou MP, De Groot AS, Murphey-Corb M, Levy JA, Yamamoto JK. HIV-1 Vaccine Trials: Evolving Concepts and Designs. Open AIDS J 2012; 6:274-88. [PMID: 23289052 PMCID: PMC3534440 DOI: 10.2174/1874613601206010274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2012] [Revised: 09/18/2012] [Accepted: 09/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
An effective prophylactic HIV-1 vaccine is needed to eradicate the HIV/AIDS pandemic but designing such a vaccine is a challenge. Despite many advances in vaccine technology and approaches to generate both humoral and cellular immune responses, major phase-II and -III vaccine trials against HIV/AIDS have resulted in only moderate successes. The modest achievement of the phase-III RV144 prime-boost trial in Thailand re-emphasized the importance of generating robust humoral and cellular responses against HIV. While antibody-directed approaches are being pursued by some groups, others are attempting to develop vaccines targeting cell-mediated immunity, since evidence show CTLs to be important for the control of HIV replication. Phase-I and -IIa multi-epitope vaccine trials have already been conducted with vaccine immunogens consisting of known CTL epitopes conserved across HIV subtypes, but have so far fallen short of inducing robust and consistent anti-HIV CTL responses. The concepts leading to the development of T-cell epitope-based vaccines, the outcomes of related clinical vaccine trials and efforts to enhance the immunogenicity of cell-mediated approaches are summarized in this review. Moreover, we describe a novel approach based on the identification of SIV and FIV antigens which contain conserved HIV-specific T-cell epitopes and represent an alternative method for developing an effective HIV vaccine against global HIV isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Missa P Sanou
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110880, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Anne S De Groot
- EpiVax Inc., University of Rhode Island, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Michael Murphey-Corb
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, E1252 Biomedical Science Tower 200, Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Jay A Levy
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, S-1280, 513 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Janet K Yamamoto
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110880, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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Early HLA-B*57-restricted CD8+ T lymphocyte responses predict HIV-1 disease progression. J Virol 2012; 86:10505-16. [PMID: 22811521 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00102-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Although HLA-B*57 (B57) is associated with slow progression to disease following HIV-1 infection, B57 heterozygotes display a wide spectrum of outcomes, including rapid progression, viremic slow progression, and elite control. Efforts to identify differences between B57-positive (B57(+)) slow progressors and B57(+) rapid progressors have largely focused on cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) phenotypes and specificities during chronic stages of infection. Although CTL responses in the early months of infection are likely to be the most important for the long-term rate of HIV-1 disease progression, few data on the early CTL responses of eventual slow progressors have been available. Utilizing the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), we retrospectively examined the early HIV-1-specific CTL responses of 14 B57(+) individuals whose time to development of disease ranged from 3.5 years to longer than 25 years after infection. In general, a greater breadth of targeting of epitopes from structural proteins, especially Gag, as well as of highly conserved epitopes from any HIV-1 protein, correlated with longer times until disease. The single elite controller in the cohort was an outlier on several correlations of CTL targeting and time until disease, consistent with reports that elite control is typically not achieved solely by protective HLA-mediated CTLs. When targeting of individual epitopes was analyzed, we found that early CTL responses to the IW9 (ISPRTLNAW) epitope of Gag, while generally subdominant, correlated with delayed progression to disease. This is the first study to identify early CTL responses to IW9 as a correlate of protection in persons with HLA-B*57.
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Anton PA, Saunders T, Elliott J, Khanukhova E, Dennis R, Adler A, Cortina G, Tanner K, Boscardin J, Cumberland WG, Zhou Y, Ventuneac A, Carballo-Diéguez A, Rabe L, McCormick T, Gabelnick H, Mauck C, McGowan I. First phase 1 double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized rectal microbicide trial using UC781 gel with a novel index of ex vivo efficacy. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23243. [PMID: 21969851 PMCID: PMC3182160 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2011] [Accepted: 07/11/2011] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Successful control of the HIV/AIDS pandemic requires reduction of HIV-1 transmission at sexually-exposed mucosae. No prevention studies of the higher-risk rectal compartment exist. We report the first-in-field Phase 1 trial of a rectally-applied, vaginally-formulated microbicide gel with the RT-inhibitor UC781 measuring clinical and mucosal safety, acceptability and plasma drug levels. A first-in-Phase 1 assessment of preliminary pharmacodynamics was included by measuring changes in ex vivo HIV-1 suppression in rectal biopsy tissue after exposure to product in vivo. METHODS HIV-1 seronegative, sexually-abstinent men and women (N = 36) were randomized in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial comparing UC781 gel at two concentrations (0.1%, 0.25%) with placebo gel (1∶1∶1). Baseline, single-dose exposure and a separate, 7-day at-home dosing were assessed. Safety and acceptability were primary endpoints. Changes in colorectal mucosal markers and UC781 plasma drug levels were secondary endpoints; ex vivo biopsy infectibility was an ancillary endpoint. RESULTS All 36 subjects enrolled completed the 7-14 week trial (100% retention) including 3 flexible sigmoidoscopies, each with 28 biopsies (14 at 10 cm; 14 at 30 cm). There were 81 Grade 1 adverse events (AEs) and 8 Grade 2; no Grade 3, 4 or procedure-related AEs were reported. Acceptability was high, including likelihood of future use. No changes in mucosal immunoinflammatory markers were identified. Plasma levels of UC781 were not detected. Ex vivo infection of biopsies using two titers of HIV-1(BaL) showed marked suppression of p24 in tissues exposed in vivo to 0.25% UC781; strong trends of suppression were seen with the lower 0.1% UC781 concentration. CONCLUSIONS Single and 7-day topical rectal exposure to both concentrations of UC781 were safe with no significant AEs, high acceptability, no detected plasma drug levels and no significant mucosal changes. Ex vivo biopsy infections demonstrated marked suppression of HIV infectibility, identifying a potential early biomarker of efficacy. (Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov; #NCT00408538).
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A Anton
- Center for HIV Prevention Research, UCLA AIDS Institute, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The phenomenon of long-term nonprogression in HIV infection has been recognized for some time, and the ability of rare individuals, designated 'elite controllers', to control HIV in the absence of therapy is the focus of numerous ongoing studies. This review focuses on studies of HIV-specific immune responses in mucosal tissues as a potential correlate of immune control, with an emphasis on recently published work. RECENT FINDINGS Genetic studies have implicated a role for elements localized to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6 in the immune control of HIV infection. In parallel, functional studies have strongly implicated MHC class I-restricted, CD8+ T-cell responses as a major contributor to elite control. In addition, the localization of HIV-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells with respect to the major sites of virus replication in the body may be critical in determining clinical outcome. SUMMARY Recent findings suggest that MHC class I-restricted, CD8+ T cells are a major component of immune control in 'elite controllers'. In addition, the presence of these effector cells at or near critical viral reservoirs, such as mucosal tissues, may be critical in determining their effectiveness at limiting viral replication and dissemination.
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Kaltsidis H, Cheeseman H, Kopycinski J, Ashraf A, Cox MC, Clark L, Anjarwalla I, Dally L, Bergin P, Spentzou A, Higgs C, Gotch F, Gazzard B, Gomez R, Hayes P, Kelleher P, Gill DK, Gilmour J. Measuring human T cell responses in blood and gut samples using qualified methods suitable for evaluation of HIV vaccine candidates in clinical trials. J Immunol Methods 2011; 370:43-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2011.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2011] [Revised: 05/13/2011] [Accepted: 05/18/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Yang OO, Daar ES, Ng HL, Shih R, Jamieson BD. Increasing CTL targeting of conserved sequences during early HIV-1 infection is correlated to decreasing viremia. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2011; 27:391-8. [PMID: 21087140 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2010.0183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Early HIV-1 infection is marked by rapid evolution of both CD8(+) T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope targeting and viral sequences, while chronic infection demonstrates relative stability of these parameters. To examine the interactions of changing CTL targeting and viremia in early infection, we assessed CTL targeting and viremia levels in persons during early HIV-1 infection (estimated 15-271 days post-infection) who were placed on effective antiretroviral therapy. Pre-therapy, CTL targeting of viral proteins varied between persons depending on time after infection. Across individuals, increasing time after infection was associated with increasing Gag and Pol targeting, suggesting increasing targeting of conserved sequences. The intensity of Gag targeting correlated to lower viremia levels, while Env targeting correlated to higher viremia levels during early infection. This suggested that shifted targeting towards more conserved sequences is involved with the drop of viremia during early infection, consistent with prior observations of correlation between Gag targeting and lower viremia during chronic infection. After suppressive antiretroviral therapy, CTL targeting was generally static, indicating that HIV-1 replication and evolution drives the evolution of CTL targeting in early infection. Overall, these data suggest that early CTL targeting is directed towards more variable epitopes, causing escape and re-targeting until more conserved epitopes are recognized stably in chronic infection. Circumventing this natural history by pre-targeting CTL against more conserved epitopes with a vaccine could minimize the initial period of viral escape and immune damage during acute infection, improving long-term containment of HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otto O. Yang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- UCLA AIDS Institute, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Eric S. Daar
- Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Hwee L. Ng
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- UCLA AIDS Institute, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Roger Shih
- UCLA AIDS Institute, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Beth D. Jamieson
- UCLA AIDS Institute, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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Bennett MS, Joseph A, Ng HL, Goldstein H, Yang OO. Fine-tuning of T-cell receptor avidity to increase HIV epitope variant recognition by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. AIDS 2010; 24:2619-28. [PMID: 20881472 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0b013e32833f7b22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE T-cell receptor (TCR) gene therapy is an approach being considered for HIV-1, but epitope mutation is a significant barrier. We assessed whether HIV-specific TCR can be modified to have broader coverage of epitope variants by recombining polymorphisms between public clonotype TCR sequences. DESIGN Public clonotype TCRs recognizing the same epitope often differ by polymorphisms in their third complementarity determining regions (CDR3). We assessed whether novel combinations of such polymorphisms could improve TCR recognition of epitope variation. METHODS A TCR recognizing the HLA A*0201-restricted epitope SLYNTVATL (Gag 77-85, SL9) was engineered to have combinations of four polymorphisms in the CDR3 regions compared to another SL9-specific TCR. These novel TCRs were screened for functional avidities against SL9 epitope variants and abilities to mediate cytotoxic T-lymphocyte suppression of HIV-1 containing the same epitope variants. RESULTS The TCRs varied modestly in functional avidities for SL9 variants, due to alterations in affinity. This translated to differences in antiviral activities against HIV-1 when functional avidity changes crossed the previously defined threshold required for efficient recognition of HIV-1-infected cells. Higher avidity TCR mutants had generally broader recognition of SL9 variants. CONCLUSION These results indicate that rationally targeted increases in functional avidities can be utilized to maximize the antiviral breadth of transgenic TCRs. In contrast to previously reported random mutagenesis to markedly increase functional avidities, tuning through recombining naturally occurring polymorphisms may offer a more physiologic approach that minimizes the risk of deleterious TCR reactivities.
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Balamurugan A, Ng HL, Yang OO. Rapid T cell receptor delineation reveals clonal expansion limitation of the magnitude of the HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cell response. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2010; 185:5935-42. [PMID: 20944001 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1002236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
TCRs mediate CTL specificity, but TCRs recognizing the same epitope often differ between persons due to their stochastic derivation. The role of this variability in the pathogenesis of virus infections and malignancies has been technically difficult to study. We apply an adaptation of TCR spectratyping to study HIV-specific CTLs, defining the clonal breadth and sequences of epitope-specific TCRs from PBMCs without cellular sorting or molecular cloning. Examining 48 CTL responses in 12 persons reveals a mean of 4.5 ± 2.7 clones per response, of both public and private clonotypes. The number of identified epitope-specific TCRs correlates with CTL frequency across epitopes, suggesting that clonal breadth limits the magnitude of the CTL response against HIV-1 in vivo. HLA A- and B-restricted CTLs are similar in their TCR breadth in this small cohort, preliminarily suggesting that qualitative differences may account for their disparate impacts on pathogenesis. Overall, these findings demonstrate that the magnitude of the CTL response in chronic HIV-1 infection is constrained by TCR clonal breadth, suggesting maximal expansion of CTLs in response to chronic antigenic stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arumugam Balamurugan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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HIV controllers with HLA-DRB1*13 and HLA-DQB1*06 alleles have strong, polyfunctional mucosal CD4+ T-cell responses. J Virol 2010; 84:11020-9. [PMID: 20719952 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00980-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
A small percentage of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals, termed elite controllers, are able to spontaneously control HIV replication in blood. As the gastrointestinal mucosa is an important site of HIV transmission and replication as well as CD4+ T-cell depletion, it is important to understand the nature of the immune responses occurring in this compartment. Although the role of the HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses in mucosal tissues has been described, few studies have investigated the role of mucosal HIV-specific CD4+ T cells. In this study, we assessed HIV-specific CD4+ T-cell responses in the rectal mucosa of 28 "controllers" (viral load [VL] of <2,000 copies/ml), 14 "noncontrollers" (VL of >10,000 copies/ml), and 10 individuals on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (VL of <75 copies/ml). Controllers had higher-magnitude Gag-specific mucosal CD4+ T-cell responses than individuals on HAART (P<0.05), as measured by their ability to produce gamma interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and macrophage inflammatory protein 1β (MIP-1β). The frequency of polyfunctional mucosal CD4+ T cells was also higher in controllers than in noncontrollers or individuals on HAART (P<0.05). Controllers with the strongest HIV-specific CD4+ T-cell responses possessed class II HLA alleles, HLA-DRB1*13 and/or HLA-DQB1*06, previously associated with a nonprogression phenotype. Strikingly, individuals with both HLA-DRB1*13 and HLA-DQB1*06 had highly polyfunctional mucosal CD4+ T cells compared to individuals with HLA-DQB1*06 alone or other class II alleles. The frequency of polyfunctional CD4+ T cells in rectal mucosa positively correlated with the magnitude of the mucosal CD8+ T-cell response (Spearman's r=0.43, P=0.005), suggesting that increased CD4+ T-cell "help" may be important in maintaining strong CD8+ T-cell responses in the gut of HIV controllers.
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Immunodominant HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses are common to blood and gastrointestinal mucosa, and Gag-specific responses dominate in rectal mucosa of HIV controllers. J Virol 2010; 84:10354-65. [PMID: 20668079 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00803-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have suggested that polyfunctional mucosal CD8(+) T-cell responses may be a correlate of protection in HIV controllers. Mucosal T-cell breadth and/or specificity may also contribute to defining protective responses. In this study, rectal CD8(+) T-cell responses to HIV Gag, Env, and Nef were mapped at the peptide level in four subject groups: elite controllers (n = 16; viral load [VL], <75 copies/ml), viremic controllers (n = 14; VL, 75 to 2,000 copies/ml), noncontrollers (n = 14; VL, >10,000 copies/ml), and antiretroviral-drug-treated subjects (n = 8; VL, <75 copies/ml). In all subject groups, immunodominant CD8(+) T-cell responses were generally shared by blood and mucosa, although there were exceptions. In HIV controllers, responses to HLA-B27- and HLA-B57-restricted epitopes were common to both tissues, and their magnitude (in spot-forming cells [SFC] per million) was significantly greater than those of responses restricted by other alleles. Furthermore, peptides recognized by T cells in both blood and rectal mucosa, termed "concordant," elicited higher median numbers of SFC than discordant responses. In magnitude as well as breadth, HIV Gag-specific responses, particularly those targeting p24 and p7, dominated in controllers. Responses in noncontrollers were more evenly distributed among epitopes in Gag, Env, and Nef. Viremic controllers showed significantly broader mucosal Gag-specific responses than other groups. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that (i) Gag-specific responses dominate in mucosal tissues of HIV controllers; (ii) there is extensive overlap between CD8(+) T cells in blood and mucosal tissues, with responses to immunodominant epitopes generally shared by both sites; and (iii) mucosal T-cell response breadth alone cannot account for immune control.
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31
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Greene JM, Lhost JJ, Burwitz BJ, Budde ML, Macnair CE, Weiker MK, Gostick E, Friedrich TC, Broman KW, Price DA, O'Connor SL, O'Connor DH. Extralymphoid CD8+ T cells resident in tissue from simian immunodeficiency virus SIVmac239{Delta}nef-vaccinated macaques suppress SIVmac239 replication ex vivo. J Virol 2010; 84:3362-72. [PMID: 20089651 PMCID: PMC2838091 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02028-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2009] [Accepted: 01/05/2010] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Live-attenuated vaccination with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) SIVmac239Deltanef is the most successful vaccine product tested to date in macaques. However, the mechanisms that explain the efficacy of this vaccine remain largely unknown. We utilized an ex vivo viral suppression assay to assess the quality of the immune response in SIVmac239Deltanef-immunized animals. Using major histocompatibility complex-matched Mauritian cynomolgus macaques, we did not detect SIV-specific functional immune responses in the blood by gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) enzyme-linked immunospot assay at select time points; however, we found that lung CD8(+) T cells, unlike blood CD8(+) T cells, effectively suppress virus replication by up to 80%. These results suggest that SIVmac239Deltanef may be an effective vaccine because it elicits functional immunity at mucosal sites. Moreover, these results underscore the limitations of relying on immunological measurements from peripheral blood lymphocytes in studies of protective immunity to HIV/SIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M. Greene
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53715, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer J. Lhost
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53715, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin J. Burwitz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53715, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Melisa L. Budde
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53715, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Caitlin E. Macnair
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53715, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Madelyn K. Weiker
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53715, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Gostick
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53715, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas C. Friedrich
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53715, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Karl W. Broman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53715, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Price
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53715, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Shelby L. O'Connor
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53715, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - David H. O'Connor
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wisconsin 53715, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom
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Bere A, Denny L, Hanekom W, Burgers WA, Passmore JAS. Comparison of polyclonal expansion methods to improve the recovery of cervical cytobrush-derived T cells from the female genital tract of HIV-infected women. J Immunol Methods 2010; 354:68-79. [PMID: 20149794 PMCID: PMC2854893 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2010.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2009] [Revised: 02/02/2010] [Accepted: 02/02/2010] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Cervical cytobrushing is a useful and non-invasive method for obtaining mucosal mononuclear cells from the female genital tract, but yields few cells. The aim of this study was to compare in vitro expansion protocols (anti-CD3, anti-CD3/CD28 or Dynal anti-CD3/CD28 beads) and cytokine combinations (IL-2, IL-7 and IL-15) to improve cervical T cell yields and viability. Eighteen HIV-infected women were included in this study to compare methods for polyclonal expansion of T cells from the female genital tract and blood. Comparison of T cell yields, viability and maturational status (by differential staining with CD45RO, CCR7 and CD27) was determined following 7 days of in vitro expansion. Anti-CD3 and IL-2 resulted in a 4.5-fold (range 3.7–5.3) expansion of cervical CD3+ T cells in 7 days compared to day 0. Inclusion of anti-CD28 or addition of IL-7 and IL-15 to this combination did not improve expansion. Culturing cells with Dynal beads (1:1) and IL-2, IL-7 and IL-15 gave rise to the highest yields after 7 days in both blood (7.1-fold) and cervix (5.6-fold). While expansion with anti-CD3 led to the accumulation of effector memory T cells (CD45RO+CCR7−CD27−), expansion with Dynabeads selected for accumulation of central memory T cells (CD45RO+CCR7+CD27+). We conclude that in vitro expansion with Dynabeads (1:1) in the presence of IL-2, IL-7 and IL-15 resulted in the greatest increase in viable T cells from both blood and cytobrush. Irrespective of the expansion method used, the T cell memory profile was altered following expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred Bere
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
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33
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The development of an AIDS mucosal vaccine. Viruses 2010; 2:283-297. [PMID: 21994611 PMCID: PMC3185548 DOI: 10.3390/v2010283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2009] [Revised: 01/20/2010] [Accepted: 01/20/2010] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well known that mucosal tissues contain the largest surface area of the human body and are the front line of natural host defense against various pathogens. In fact, more than 80% of infectious disease pathogens probably gain entry into the susceptible human hosts through open mucosal surfaces. Human immunodeficiency virus type one (HIV-1), a mainly sexually transmitted virus, also primarily targets the vaginal and gastrointestinal mucosa as entry sites for viral transmission, seeding, replication and amplification. Since HIV-1 establishes its early replication in vaginal or rectal mucosal tissues, the induction of sufficient mucosal immunity at the initial site of HIV-1 transmission becomes essential for a protective vaccine. However, despite the fact that current conventional vaccine strategies have remained unsuccessful in preventing HIV-1 infection, sufficient financial support and resources have yet to be given to develop a vaccine able to elicit protective mucosal immunity against sexual transmissions. Interestingly, Chinese ancestors invented variolation through intranasal administration about one thousand years ago, which led to the discovery of a successful smallpox vaccine and the final eradication of the disease. It is the hope for all mankind that the development of a mucosal AIDS vaccine will ultimately help control the AIDS pandemic. In order to discover an effective mucosal AIDS vaccine, it is necessary to have a deep understanding of mucosal immunology and to test various mucosal vaccination strategies.
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Shacklett BL, Anton PA. HIV Infection and Gut Mucosal Immune Function: Updates on Pathogenesis with Implications for Management and Intervention. Curr Infect Dis Rep 2010; 12:19-27. [PMID: 20174448 PMCID: PMC2821616 DOI: 10.1007/s11908-009-0072-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
HIV is primarily a sexually transmitted infection. However, given that the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) houses most of the body’s lymphocytes, including activated memory CD4+ T cells that are preferential targets for HIV, recent research has focused on the role of the GIT in transmission and pathogenesis. In health, the GIT maintains a balance between immune tolerance and rapid responsiveness. A complex network of innate and adaptive responses maintains this balance, which is severely perturbed in HIV infection. Recent studies have focused on mechanisms of GIT CD4+ T-cell depletion and epithelial disruption in HIV infection, the role of inflammation in accelerating viral dissemination, the kinetics of the adaptive response following transmission, and the extent of T-cell reconstitution following antiretroviral therapy. This review summarizes the results of recent investigations that may have important implications for the development of vaccines, microbicides, and therapeutic interventions for HIV and other mucosal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara L. Shacklett
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, UC Davis School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616-8645 USA
| | - Peter A. Anton
- Department of Medicine, Center for HIV Prevention Research, UCLA AIDS Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095 USA
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35
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review summarizes recent literature in the field of mucosal immunology as it applies to HIV transmission and pathogenesis. RECENT FINDINGS Pertinent recent findings include elucidation of the role of mucosal antigen-presenting cells and retinoic acid in imprinting a gut-homing phenotype on antigen-specific T and B cells, and the identification of Th17 and T regulatory cells as key modulators of the balance between tolerance and inflammation in mucosal tissues. SUMMARY Mucosal surfaces of the body serve as the major portal of entry for HIV. These tissues also house a majority of the body's lymphocytes, including the CD4 T-cells that are the major cellular target for HIV infection. Elucidating mucosal immune responses is critical to our understanding of the host-pathogen relationship for two reasons: first, mucosal barriers are defended by a range of innate and adaptive defenses that might be exploited to develop effective vaccines or microbicides; second, adaptive immune responses in mucosal lymphoid tissues might serve to limit viral replication, decreasing the host's viral burden as well as reducing the likelihood of sexual transmission to a naïve host.
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36
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Cell-mediated immunity to HIV in the female reproductive tract. J Reprod Immunol 2009; 83:190-5. [PMID: 19857902 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2009.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2008] [Revised: 07/12/2009] [Accepted: 07/16/2009] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The majority of HIV infections occur via sexual transmission across a mucosal barrier. In the case of male-to-female transmission, HIV-susceptible target cells are abundant in the ectocervix and vagina but are also present in the upper reproductive tract (endocervix and uterus). While the mechanisms of HIV transmission in the female reproductive tract are an active area of investigation, cell-mediated immune responses in reproductive tissues have not been thoroughly characterized. HIV-specific CD8+ T cells are present in reproductive tissues, to some extent mirroring populations present in the blood and gastrointestinal mucosa. Innate natural killer (NK) cells and regulatory T cells are also present in the genital tract. Furthermore, there is mounting evidence that the female reproductive tract may be uniquely susceptible to infection at specific times during the menstrual cycle, due to hormonal regulation of both innate and adaptive immune responses. This review provides an overview of recent findings on cell-mediated immunity to HIV in the female reproductive tract.
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Candidate vaccine sequences to represent intra- and inter-clade HIV-1 variation. PLoS One 2009; 4:e7388. [PMID: 19812689 PMCID: PMC2753653 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2009] [Accepted: 09/04/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A likely key factor in the failure of a HIV-1 vaccine based on cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) is the natural immunodominance of epitopes that fall in variable regions of the proteome, which both increases the chance of epitope sequence mismatch with the incoming challenge strain and replicates the pathogenesis of early CTL failure due to epitope escape mutation during natural infection. To identify potential vaccine sequences to focus the CTL response on highly conserved epitopes, the whole proteomes of HIV-1 clades A1, B, C, and D were assessed for Shannon entropy at each amino acid position. Highly conserved regions in Gag (cGag-1, Gag 148–214, and cGag-2, Gag 253–331), Env (cEnv, Env 521–606), and Nef (cNef, Nef 106–148) were identified across clades. Inter- and intra-clade variability of amino acids within the regions tended to overlap, suggesting that polyvalent representation of consensus sequences for the four clades would allow broad HIV-1 strain representation. These four conserved regions were rich in both known and predicted CTL epitopes presented by a breadth of HLA types, and screening of 54 persons with chronic HIV-1 infection revealed that these regions are commonly immunogenic in the context of natural infection. These data suggest that vaccine delivery of a 16-valent mixture of these regions could focus the CTL response against conserved epitopes that are broadly representative of circulating HIV-1 strains.
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Bere A, Denny L, Burgers WA, Passmore JAS. Polyclonal expansion of cervical cytobrush-derived T cells to investigate HIV-specific responses in the female genital tract. Immunology 2009; 130:23-33. [PMID: 20201983 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2009.03172.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) -specific T-cell responses are detectable in the female genital tract of HIV-infected women but little is known about their frequency or the factors that influence their detection. We investigated the feasibility of polyclonal in vitro expansion of cervical cytobrush-derived T cells to investigate HIV-specific responses in the female genital tract in HIV-infected women. Cytobrush-derived cervical cells were isolated from 22 HIV-infected women and expanded with anti-CD3 and recombinant interleukin-2. Cervical T-cell lines were investigated for Gag-specific responses by interferon-gamma ELISPOT and compared with those detected in matched blood samples. Cervical T-cell lines were established from 16/22 (72.7%) participants. Although the absolute number of CD3(+/-) cells recovered after expansion was positively associated with the number of cells isolated ex vivo (P = 0.01; R = 0.62), we observed a significant negative correlation between fold expansion and ex vivo cell number (P = 0.004; R = -0.68). We show that both the magnitude (P = 0.002; R = 0.7) and specific Gag regions targeted by cervical T-cell lines (P < 0.0001; R = 0.5) correlated significantly with those detected in blood. With one exception, cervical interferon-gamma T-cell responses to Gag were detected only in HIV-infected women with blood Gag-specific response > 1000 spot-forming units/10(6) cells. We conclude that cervical Gag-specific T-cell responses in expanded lines are most easily detectable in women who have corresponding high-magnitude Gag-specific T-cell responses in blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred Bere
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa
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39
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Abstract
Mucosal surfaces of the body serve as the major portal of entry for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These tissues also house a majority of the body's lymphocytes, including the CD4(+) T cells that are the major cellular target for HIV infection. Mucosal surfaces are defended by innate and adaptive immune mechanisms, including secreted antibodies and CD8(+) cytotoxic T cells (CTL). CTL in mucosal lymphoid tissues may serve to limit viral replication, decreasing the host's viral burden as well as reducing the likelihood of sexual transmission to a naïve host. This review summarizes recent literature on HIV-specific T-cell responses in mucosal tissues, with an emphasis on the gastrointestinal tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- B L Shacklett
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
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Shacklett BL, Critchfield JW, Lemongello D. Isolating mucosal lymphocytes from biopsy tissue for cellular immunology assays. Methods Mol Biol 2009; 485:347-56. [PMID: 19020836 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-59745-170-3_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Mucosal tissues of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts serve as major portals of HIV-1 transmission, and recent literature has highlighted the important role of these tissues in pathogenesis. However, our understanding of human mucosal T-cell responses remains limited. We have previously reported methods for isolating, culturing and analyzing mucosal T-lymphocytes obtained from gastrointestinal biopsy tissue. This method of acquiring tissue is minimally invasive and well accepted by patients, and allows sampling of sites that would not otherwise be accessible without surgical intervention. This chapter summarizes the approach currently in use in our laboratory to isolate and study CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells from rectal biopsies obtained through flexible sigmoidoscopy. These methods are also applicable, with minor modifications, to small tissue samples obtained from other lymphoid tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara L Shacklett
- Department of Medical Microbiology, and Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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Impact of mucosal inflammation on cervical human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1)-specific CD8 T-cell responses in the female genital tract during chronic HIV infection. J Virol 2008; 82:8529-36. [PMID: 18562528 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00183-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The female genital tract is the major route of heterosexual human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition and transmission. Here, we investigated whether HIV-specific CD8 T-cell-mediated immune responses could be detected in the genital mucosa of chronically HIV-infected women and whether these were associated with either local mucosal HIV shedding or local immune factors. We found that CD8(+) T-cell gamma interferon responses to Gag were detectable at the cervix of HIV-infected women but that the magnitude of genital responses did not correlate with those similarly detected in blood. This indicates that ex vivo HIV responses in one compartment may not be predictive of those in the other. We found that increased genital tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels correlated significantly with levels of Gag-specific CD8(+) T cells at the cervix. Women who were detectably shedding virus in the genital tract had significantly increased cervical levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8 compared to women who were not detectably shedding virus. We were, however, unable to detect any association between the magnitude of cervical HIV-specific responses and mucosal HIV shedding. Our results support the hypothesis that proinflammatory cytokines in the female genital tract may promote HIV replication and shedding. In addition, we further show that inflammatory cytokines are associated with increased levels of HIV-specific CD8 effector cells at the genital mucosa but that these were not able to control genital HIV shedding.
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Anton PA, Ibarrondo FJ, Boscardin WJ, Zhou Y, Schwartz EJ, Ng HL, Hausner MA, Shih R, Elliott J, Hultin PM, Hultin LE, Price C, Fuerst M, Adler A, Wong JT, Yang OO, Jamieson BD. Differential immunogenicity of vaccinia and HIV-1 components of a human recombinant vaccine in mucosal and blood compartments. Vaccine 2008; 26:4617-23. [PMID: 18621451 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.05.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2007] [Revised: 05/07/2008] [Accepted: 05/14/2008] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Mucosal immune responses induced by HIV-1 vaccines are likely critical for prevention. We report a Phase 1 safety and immunogenicity trial in eight participants using the vaccinia-based TBC-3B vaccine given subcutaneously to determine the relationship between HIV-1 specific systemic and gastrointestinal mucosal responses. Across all subjects, detectable levels of blood vaccinia- and HIV-1-specific antibodies were elicited but none were seen mucosally. While the vaccinia component was immunogenic for CD8(+) T lymphocyte (CTL) responses in both blood and mucosa, it was greater in blood. The HIV-1 component of the vaccine was poorly immunogenic in both blood and mucosa. Although only eight volunteers were studied intensively, the discordance between mucosal and blood responses may highlight mechanisms contributing to recent vaccine failures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A Anton
- Center for Prevention Research and the UCLA AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, USA.
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43
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Lewis MJ, Balamurugan A, Ohno A, Kilpatrick S, Ng HL, Yang OO. Functional adaptation of Nef to the immune milieu of HIV-1 infection in vivo. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2008; 180:4075-81. [PMID: 18322217 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.180.6.4075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Nef-mediated down-regulation of MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules on HIV-1-infected cells has been proposed to enhance viral persistence through evasion of host CTLs. This conclusion is based largely on demonstrations that Nef from laboratory HIV-1 strains reduces the susceptibility of infected cells to CTL killing in vitro. However, the function and role of Nef-mediated MHC-I down-regulation in vivo have not been well described. To approach this issue, nef quasispecies from chronically HIV-1-infected individuals were cloned into recombinant reporter viruses and tested for their ability to down-regulate MHC-I molecules from the surface of infected cells. The level of function varied widely between individuals, and although comparison to the immunologic parameters of blood CD4(+) T lymphocyte count and breadth of the HIV-1-specific CTL response showed positive correlations, no significant correlation was found in comparison to plasma viremia. The ability of in vivo-derived Nef to down-regulate MHC-I predicted the resistance of HIV-1 to suppression by CTL. Taken together, these data demonstrate the functionality of Nef to down-regulate MHC-I in vivo during stable chronic infection, and suggest that this function is maintained by the need of HIV-1 to cope with the antiviral CTL response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha J Lewis
- Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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44
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Retracing our STEP towards a successful CTL-based HIV-1 vaccine. Vaccine 2008; 26:3138-41. [PMID: 18339458 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2008] [Accepted: 02/08/2008] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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45
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Primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection during HIV-1 Gag vaccination. J Virol 2008; 82:2784-91. [PMID: 18199650 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01720-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccination for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) remains an elusive goal. Whether an unsuccessful vaccine might not only fail to provoke detectable immune responses but also could actually interfere with subsequent natural immunity upon HIV-1 infection is unknown. We performed detailed assessment of an HIV-1 gag DNA vaccine recipient (subject 00015) who was previously uninfected but sustained HIV-1 infection before completing a vaccination trial and another contemporaneously acutely infected individual (subject 00016) with the same strain of HIV-1. Subject 00015 received the vaccine at weeks 0, 4, and 8 and was found to have been acutely HIV-1 infected around the time of the third vaccination. Subject 00016 was a previously HIV-1-seronegative sexual contact who had symptoms of acute HIV-1 infection approximately 2 weeks earlier than subject 00015 and demonstrated subsequent seroconversion. Both individuals reached an unusually low level of chronic viremia (<1,000 copies/ml) without treatment. Subject 00015 had no detectable HIV-1-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses until a borderline response was noted at the time of the third vaccination. The magnitude and breadth of Gag-specific CTL responses in subject 00015 were similar to those of subject 00016 during early chronic infection. Viral sequences from gag, pol, and nef confirmed the common source of HIV-1 between these individuals. The diversity and divergence of sequences in subjects 00015 and 00016 were similar, indicating similar immune pressure on these proteins (including Gag). As a whole, the data suggested that while the gag DNA vaccine did not prime detectable early CTL responses in subject 00015, vaccination did not appreciably impair his ability to contain viremia at levels similar to those in subject 00016.
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46
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Brenchley JM, Knox KS, Asher AI, Price DA, Kohli LM, Gostick E, Hill BJ, Hage CA, Brahmi Z, Khoruts A, Twigg HL, Schacker TW, Douek DC. High frequencies of polyfunctional HIV-specific T cells are associated with preservation of mucosal CD4 T cells in bronchoalveolar lavage. Mucosal Immunol 2008; 1:49-58. [PMID: 19079160 PMCID: PMC2777611 DOI: 10.1038/mi.2007.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying the massive gastrointestinal tract CD4 T-cell depletion in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are not well understood nor is it clear whether similar depletion is manifest at other mucosal surfaces. Studies of T-cell and virus dynamics in different anatomical sites have begun to illuminate the pathogenesis of HIV-associated disease. Here, we studied depletion and HIV infection frequencies of CD4 T cells from the gastrointestinal tract, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and blood with the frequencies and functional profiles of HIV-specific T cells in these anatomically distinct sites in HIV-infected individuals. The major findings to emerge were as follows: (i) depletion of gastrointestinal CD4 T cells is associated with high frequencies of infected CD4 T cells; (ii) HIV-specific T cells are present at low frequencies in the gastrointestinal tract compared to blood; (iii) BAL CD4 T cells are not massively depleted during the chronic phase; (iv) infection frequencies of BAL CD4 T cells are similar to those in blood; (v) significantly higher frequencies and increased functionality of HIV-specific T cells were observed in BAL compared to blood. Taken together, these data suggest mechanisms for mucosal CD4 T-cell depletion and interventions that might circumvent global depletion of mucosal CD4 T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- JM Brenchley
- Human Immunology Section, Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - KS Knox
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Richard L Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - AI Asher
- Human Immunology Section, Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - DA Price
- Human Immunology Section, Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - LM Kohli
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - E Gostick
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - BJ Hill
- Human Immunology Section, Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - CA Hage
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Richard L Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Z Brahmi
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - A Khoruts
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - HL Twigg
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - TW Schacker
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - DC Douek
- Human Immunology Section, Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Bourges D, Zhan Y, Brady JL, Braley H, Caminschi I, Prato S, Villadangos JA, Lew AM. Targeting the gut vascular endothelium induces gut effector CD8 T cell responses via cross-presentation by dendritic cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2007; 179:5678-85. [PMID: 17947639 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.179.9.5678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Systemic delivery of Ag usually induces poor mucosal immunity. To improve the CD8 T cell response at mucosal sites, we targeted the Ag to MAdCAM-1, a mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule expressed mainly by high endothelial venules (HEV) in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and Peyer's patches of gut-associated lymphoid tissue. When chemical conjugates of anti-MAdCAM-1 Ab and model Ag OVA were injected i.v., a greatly enhanced proliferative response of Ag-specific OT-I CD8 T cells was detected in MLN. This was preceded by prolonged accumulation, up to 2 wk, of the anti-MAdCAM OVA conjugate on HEV of Peyer's patches and MLN. In contrast, nontargeted OVA conjugate was very inefficient in inducing OT-I CD8 T cell proliferation in MLN and required at least 20-fold more Ag to induce a comparable response. In addition, MAdCAM targeting elicits an endogenous OVA-specific CD8 T cell response, evident by IFN-gamma production and target killing. Induced response offers protection against an OVA-expressing B cell lymphoma. We propose that the augmentation of gut CD8 T cell responses by MAdCAM targeting is due to both accumulation of Ag in the HEV and conversion of a soluble Ag to a cell-associated one, allowing cross-presentation by DCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothee Bourges
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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48
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Fauce SR, Yang OO, Effros RB. Autologous CD4/CD8 co-culture assay: a physiologically-relevant composite measure of CD8+ T lymphocyte function in HIV-infected persons. J Immunol Methods 2007; 327:75-81. [PMID: 17716683 PMCID: PMC2151928 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2007.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2006] [Revised: 04/10/2007] [Accepted: 07/16/2007] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
During HIV-1 infection, the CD8(+) T lymphocyte response is critical to controlling the virus; indeed, the development of AIDS results, in large part, from the eventual failure of this response. The ability to measure the composite CD8(+) T lymphocyte anti-viral activity is, therefore, an essential requirement in the evaluation of immune based therapies and potential vaccines. We report here the details of a reproducible assay that measures the ability of CD8(+) T lymphocytes to suppress viral production by infected autologous CD4(+) T lymphocytes. The assay is not limited to persons with any specific HLA type, and the use of bi-specific antibodies for cell expansion makes the assay feasible in situations where cell numbers may be limiting. The measurement of viral production over time provides a global readout of the CD8(+) T lymphocyte overall function against HIV-1, which can be used for longitudinal assessment of individual HIV-infected persons in order to evaluate therapy, immune reconstitution, and new vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven R. Fauce
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Otto O. Yang
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- Department of Microbiology Immunology & Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- UCLA AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
| | - Rita B. Effros
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- UCLA AIDS Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
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49
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Ching N, Yang OO, Deville JG, Nielsen-Saines K, Ank BJ, Sim MS, Bryson YJ. Pediatric HIV-1-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses suggesting ongoing viral replication despite combination antiretroviral therapy. Pediatr Res 2007; 61:692-7. [PMID: 17426646 DOI: 10.1203/pdr.0b013e31805365ef] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1)-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses are common in infected adults and usually exhibit rapid decay after combination antiretroviral therapy (ART). CTLs develop later in the first year of life, and the fate of HIV-1-specific responses in perinatally infected children after ART is less well described. HIV-1-specific CTL responses were measured in 17 perinatally infected children and adolescents (ages 3-20 y) receiving combination ART. Seven had prolonged viral suppression (<400 copies/mL) for 2.5-5.3 y and 10 had persistent viremia (median, 77,550 copies/mL). HIV-1-specific CTL responses were tested by interferon (IFN)-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot (ELIS-pot) assays using 53 overlapping peptide pools spanning the entire HIV-1 proteome. HIV-1-specific CTL responses were detected in 14 of 17 individuals. Responses to one to four viral proteins were found in eight of 10 individuals with persistent viremia and six of seven with prolonged viral suppression. The magnitude and breadth of CTL responses were similar between groups. HIV-1-specific CTL responses were present in the majority of perinatally infected subjects, irrespective of viremia at evaluation. Because ART-treated infected adults usually have rapid decay of responses, these data suggest viral replication below the limits of detection is more persistent in combination ART-treated perinatally infected pediatric subjects. The long-term clinical implications of these findings remain to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natascha Ching
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, David Gefen School of Medicine at UCLA and Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
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50
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Critchfield JW, Lemongello D, Walker DH, Garcia JC, Asmuth DM, Pollard RB, Shacklett BL. Multifunctional human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gag-specific CD8+ T-cell responses in rectal mucosa and peripheral blood mononuclear cells during chronic HIV type 1 infection. J Virol 2007; 81:5460-71. [PMID: 17344302 PMCID: PMC1900284 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02535-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The intestinal tract is a lymphocyte-rich site that undergoes severe depletion of memory CD4(+) T cells within days of simian immunodeficiency virus or human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. An ensuing influx of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells, which persist throughout the chronic phase of infection, has also been documented in the gastrointestinal tract. However, little is known of the functionality of these effector cells or their relationship to the disease course. In this study, we measured CD8(+) T-cell responses to HIV-1 peptides in paired rectal and blood samples from chronically infected patients. In both blood and rectum, there was an immunodominant CD8(+) T-cell response to HIV Gag compared to Pol and Env (P < 0.01). In contrast, cytomegalovirus pp65 peptides elicited gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) secretion strongly in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) but weakly in rectal CD8(+) T cells (P = 0.015). Upon stimulation with HIV peptides, CD8(+) T cells from both sites were capable of mounting complex responses including degranulation (CD107 expression) and IFN-gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production. In rectal tissue, CD107 release was frequently coupled with production of IFN-gamma or TNF-alpha. In patients not on antiretroviral therapy, the magnitude of Gag-specific responses, as a percentage of CD8(+) T cells, was greater in the rectal mucosa than in PBMC (P = 0.054); however, the breakdown of responding cells into specific functional categories was similar in both sites. These findings demonstrate that rectal CD8(+) T cells are capable of robust and varied HIV-1-specific responses and therefore likely play an active role in eliminating infected cells during chronic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- J William Critchfield
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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