Plasma IL-5 but Not CXCL13 Correlates With Neutralization Breadth in HIV-Infected Children

The Correlation of CD4+ T-Lymphocyte Count and Chemokine Ligand 13 Levels in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Patients Receiving Anti-retrovirus Therapy in Sanglah Central General Hospital

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is an infectious disease caused by the HIV-1 or HIV-2 virus. Cluster of differentiation 4+ (CD4+) T lymphocytes have an important role in the immune process. Chemokine Ligand 13 (CXCL13) is chemotactic for receptor-expressing cells (CXCR5), including B cells and follicular helper (Tfh) T cells. CXCL13 examination can be used to detect HIV antibodies and as a marker of disease progression and monitoring anti-retrovirus therapy (ART) in HIV-infected patients. Giving ART will reduce CXCL13 levels and show B cell activation, so CXCL13 can be used as a new marker of immune or antibody formation during acute or chronic HIV infection. CXCL13 examination can be used to detect HIV antibodies and as a marker of disease progression and monitoring ART in HIV-infected patients. Giving ART will reduce CXCL13 levels and show B cell activation, so CXCL13 can be used as a new marker of immune or antibody formation during acute or chronic HIV infection. AIM: The aim of the study was to propose a study on the relationship between CD4+ T lymphocyte levels and CXCL13 levels in HIV patients who had received ART at the Sanglah Central General Hospital (RSUP), Denpasar. This study was start from March 2021 to August 2021 at the Sanglah Central General Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used analytic observational study with a cross-sectional design, conducted at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing and the Clinical Pathology Laboratory at Sanglah Central General Hospital with 55 samples include in inclusion criteria. RESULTS: In this study, the mean age of the research subjects was 42.18 ± 10.31 years with 58.2% male, 41.8% female having received ART with a mean of 63 months. The average number of CD4+ T lymphocytes was 451.53 ± 295.118. Median CXCL13 level was 50,551. The correlation between CXCL13 levels and the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes was −0.209. This correlation was not significant with p = 0.127 (p < 0.05), then partial correlation was performed. The partial correlation of CXCL13 levels and the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes was −0.308, a negative direction indicating there was an inverse correlation. This correlation is a significant with p = 0.023 (p < 0.05) after partial correlation and is in the category of weak correlation. CONCLUSIONS: There are a significant negative correlation after partial correlation of CXCL13 levels and the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes in HIV patients at Sanglah Hospital during the treatment phase.

Distinct Features of Germinal Center Reactions in Macaques Infected by SIV or Vaccinated with a T-Dependent Model Antigen

B-cell follicles constitute large reservoirs of infectious HIV/SIV associated to follicular dendritic cells and infecting follicular helper (TFH) and regulatory (TFR) T-cells in germinal centers (GCs). Thus, follicular and GC B-cells are persistently exposed to viral antigens. Despite recent development of potent HIV immunogens, numerous questions are still open regarding GC reaction during early HIV/SIV infection. Here, we dissect the dynamics of B- and T-cells in GCs of macaques acutely infected by SIV (Group SIV+) or vaccinated with Tetanus Toxoid (Group TT), a T-dependent model antigen. Systemic inflammation and mobilization of antigen-presenting cells in inguinal lymph nodes and spleen are lower in Group TT than in Group SIV+. Despite spleen GC reaction of higher magnitude in Group SIV+, the development of protective immunity could be limited by abnormal helper functions of TFH massively polarized into TFH1-like cells, by inflammation-induced recruitment of fCD8 (either regulatory or cytotoxic) and by low numbers of TFR limiting TFH/TFR competition for high affinity B-cells. Increased GC B-cells apoptosis and accumulation of CD21lo memory B-cells, unable to further participate to GC reaction, likely contribute to eliminate SIV-specific B-cells and decrease antibody affinity maturation. Surprisingly, functional GCs and potent TT-specific antibodies develop despite low levels of CXCL13.

Innate Lymphoid Cell Activation and Sustained Depletion in Blood and Tissue of Children Infected with HIV from Birth Despite Antiretroviral Therapy

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are important for response to infection and for immune development in early life. HIV infection in adults depletes circulating ILCs, but the impact on children infected from birth remains unknown. We study vertically HIV-infected children from birth to adulthood and find severe and persistent depletion of all circulating ILCs that, unlike CD4+ T cells, are not restored by long-term antiretroviral therapy unless initiated at birth. Remaining ILCs upregulate genes associated with cellular activation and metabolic perturbation. Unlike HIV-infected adults, ILCs are also profoundly depleted in tonsils of vertically infected children. Transcriptional profiling of remaining ILCs reveals ongoing cell-type-specific activity despite antiretroviral therapy. Collectively, these data suggest an important and ongoing role for ILCs in lymphoid tissue of HIV-infected children from birth, where persistent depletion and sustained transcriptional activity are likely to have long-term immune consequences that merit further investigation.