Deguit CDT, Hough M, Hoh R, Krone M, Pilcher CD, Martin JN, Deeks SG, McCune JM, Hunt PW, Rutishauser RL. Some Aspects of CD8+ T-Cell Exhaustion Are Associated With Altered T-Cell Mitochondrial Features and
ROS Content in HIV Infection.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2019;
82:211-219. [PMID:
31513075 PMCID:
PMC6746248 DOI:
10.1097/qai.0000000000002121]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Reversing or preventing T-cell exhaustion is an important treatment goal in the context of HIV disease; however, the mechanisms that regulate HIV-specific CD8 T-cell exhaustion are incompletely understood. Since mitochondrial mass (MM), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content are altered in exhausted CD8 T cells in other settings, we hypothesized that similar lesions may arise in HIV infection.
METHODS
We sampled cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-uninfected (n = 10) and HIV-infected participants with varying levels and mechanisms of viral control: viremic (VL > 2000 copies/mL; n = 8) or aviremic (VL < 40 copies/mL) due to antiretroviral therapy (n = 11) or natural control (n = 9). We characterized the MM, MMP, and ROS content of bulk CD8 T cells and MHC class I tetramer+ HIV-specific CD8 T cells by flow cytometry.
RESULTS
We observed higher MM, MMP, and ROS content across bulk effector-memory CD8 T-cell subsets in HIV-infected compared with HIV-uninfected participants. Among HIV-specific CD8 T cells, these features did not vary by the extent or mechanism of viral control but were significantly altered in cells displaying characteristics associated with exhaustion (eg, high PD-1 expression, low CD127 expression, and impaired proliferative capacity).
CONCLUSIONS
While we did not find that control of HIV replication in vivo correlates with the CD8 T-cell MM, MMP, or ROS content, we did find that some features of CD8 T-cell exhaustion are associated with alterations in mitochondrial state. Our findings support further studies to probe the relationship between mitochondrial dynamics and CD8 T-cell functionality in HIV infection.
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