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Casado-Fernández G, Cantón J, Nasarre L, Ramos-Martín F, Manzanares M, Sánchez-Menéndez C, Fuertes D, Mateos E, Murciano-Antón MA, Pérez-Olmeda M, Cervero M, Torres M, Rodríguez-Rosado R, Coiras M. Pre-existing cell populations with cytotoxic activity against SARS-CoV-2 in people with HIV and normal CD4/CD8 ratio previously unexposed to the virus. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1362621. [PMID: 38812512 PMCID: PMC11133563 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1362621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction HIV-1 infection may produce a detrimental effect on the immune response. Early start of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is recommended to preserve the integrity of the immune system. In fact, people with HIV (PWH) and normal CD4/CD8 ratio appear not to be more susceptible to severe forms of COVID-19 than the general population and they usually present a good seroconversion rate in response to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. However, few studies have fully characterized the development of cytotoxic immune populations in response to COVID-19 vaccination in these individuals. Methods In this study, we recruited PWH with median time of HIV-1 infection of 6 years, median CD4/CD8 ratio of 1.0, good adherence to ART, persistently undetectable viral load, and negative serology against SARS-CoV-2, who then received the complete vaccination schedule against COVID-19. Blood samples were taken before vaccination against COVID-19 and one month after receiving the complete vaccination schedule. Results PWH produced high levels of IgG against SARS-CoV-2 in response to vaccination that were comparable to healthy donors, with a significantly higher neutralization capacity. Interestingly, the cytotoxic activity of PBMCs from PWH against SARS-CoV-2-infected cells was higher than healthy donors before receiving the vaccination schedule, pointing out the pre-existence of activated cell populations with likely unspecific antiviral activity. The characterization of these cytotoxic cell populations revealed high levels of Tgd cells with degranulation capacity against SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. In response to vaccination, the degranulation capacity of CD8+ T cells also increased in PWH but not in healthy donors. Discussion The full vaccination schedule against COVID-19 did not modify the ability to respond against HIV-1-infected cells in PWH and these individuals did not show more susceptibility to breakthrough infection with SARS-CoV-2 than healthy donors after 12 months of follow-up. These results revealed the development of protective cell populations with broad-spectrum antiviral activity in PWH with normal CD4/CD8 ratio and confirmed the importance of early ART and treatment adherence to avoid immune dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiomar Casado-Fernández
- Immunopathology and Viral Reservoir Unit, National Center of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
- PhD Program in Health Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Juan Cantón
- PhD Program in Health Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Internal Medicine Service, Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa, Leganés, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Nasarre
- Immunopathology and Viral Reservoir Unit, National Center of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Ramos-Martín
- Immunopathology and Viral Reservoir Unit, National Center of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mario Manzanares
- Immunopathology and Viral Reservoir Unit, National Center of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
- PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Clara Sánchez-Menéndez
- Immunopathology and Viral Reservoir Unit, National Center of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
- PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Madrid, Spain
- Hematology and Hemotherapy Service, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Fuertes
- School of Telecommunications Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Mateos
- Immunopathology and Viral Reservoir Unit, National Center of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Center Network in Infectious Diseases [Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC)], Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Aranzazu Murciano-Antón
- Family Medicine, Centro de Salud Doctor Pedro Laín Entralgo, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
- International PhD School, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mayte Pérez-Olmeda
- Biomedical Research Center Network in Infectious Diseases [Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC)], Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
- Serology Service, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Cervero
- Internal Medicine Service, Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa, Leganés, Madrid, Spain
- School of Medicine, Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio, Madrid, Spain
| | - Montserrat Torres
- Immunopathology and Viral Reservoir Unit, National Center of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Center Network in Infectious Diseases [Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC)], Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Rodríguez-Rosado
- Internal Medicine Service, Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa, Leganés, Madrid, Spain
- School of Medicine, Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mayte Coiras
- Immunopathology and Viral Reservoir Unit, National Center of Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Center Network in Infectious Diseases [Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC)], Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
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Zhu Y, Saribas AS, Liu J, Lin Y, Bodnar B, Zhao R, Guo Q, Ting J, Wei Z, Ellis A, Li F, Wang X, Yang X, Wang H, Ho WZ, Yang L, Hu W. Protein expression/secretion boost by a novel unique 21-mer cis-regulatory motif (Exin21) via mRNA stabilization. Mol Ther 2023; 31:1136-1158. [PMID: 36793212 PMCID: PMC9927791 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.02.012] [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: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Boosting protein production is invaluable in both industrial and academic applications. We discovered a novel expression-increasing 21-mer cis-regulatory motif (Exin21) that inserts between SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein-encoding sequence and luciferase reporter gene. This unique Exin21 (CAACCGCGGTTCGCGGCCGCT), encoding a heptapeptide (QPRFAAA, designated as Qα), significantly (34-fold on average) boosted E production. Both synonymous and nonsynonymous mutations within Exin21 diminished its boosting capability, indicating the exclusive composition and order of 21 nucleotides. Further investigations demonstrated that Exin21/Qα addition could boost the production of multiple SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins (S, M, and N) and accessory proteins (NSP2, NSP16, and ORF3), and host cellular gene products such as IL-2, IFN-γ, ACE2, and NIBP. Exin21/Qα enhanced the packaging yield of S-containing pseudoviruses and standard lentivirus. Exin21/Qα addition on the heavy and light chains of human anti-SARS-CoV monoclonal antibody robustly increased antibody production. The extent of such boosting varied with protein types, cellular density/function, transfection efficiency, reporter dosage, secretion signaling, and 2A-mediated auto-cleaving efficiency. Mechanistically, Exin21/Qα increased mRNA synthesis/stability, and facilitated protein expression and secretion. These findings indicate that Exin21/Qα has the potential to be used as a universal booster for protein production, which is of importance for biomedicine research and development of bioproducts, drugs, and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanjun Zhu
- Center for Metabolic Disease Research, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - A. Sami Saribas
- Center for Metabolic Disease Research, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Jinbiao Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Yuan Lin
- Center for Metabolic Disease Research, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Brittany Bodnar
- Center for Metabolic Disease Research, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Ruotong Zhao
- Center for Metabolic Disease Research, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Qian Guo
- Department of Medical Genetics & Molecular Biochemistry, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Julia Ting
- Center for Metabolic Disease Research, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Zhengyu Wei
- Center for Metabolic Disease Research, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Aidan Ellis
- Center for Metabolic Disease Research, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Fang Li
- Center for Metabolic Disease Research, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Xiaofeng Yang
- Center for Metabolic Disease Research, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Hong Wang
- Center for Metabolic Disease Research, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Wen-Zhe Ho
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Ling Yang
- Department of Medical Genetics & Molecular Biochemistry, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Wenhui Hu
- Center for Metabolic Disease Research, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
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