Increased frequencies of Th17 cells and IL17a-producing regulatory T-cells preceding the immunodiscordant response to antiretroviral treatment.
J Infect 2017;
76:86-92. [PMID:
29079322 DOI:
10.1016/j.jinf.2017.10.010]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Despite the fact that antiretroviral therapy (cART) suppresses HIV-viremia, an adequate CD4 T-cell recovery is not always achieved (immunodiscordant response to cART). IL17a-producing CD4 T-cells (Th17) constitutes an important subset involved in the preservation of mucosal surfaces integrity, which depletion has been associated with disease progression in HIV-infection. However, whether Th17 frequency at cART initiation is associated with a poor CD4 T-cell recovery has not been yet explored. Our aim was to explore whether the Th17 cells and other IL17a-producing T-cell subsets at cART initiation were associated with a subsequent immunodiscordant response to cART.
METHODS
We selected pre-cART samples of antiretroviral-naïve subjects with and without a low CD4 recovery after cART (LR-subjects and HR-subjects, respectively). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with PMA/ionomycine, and the production of several cytokines including IL17a was analyzed by flow cytometry.
RESULTS
A trend to higher Th17 (p = 0.05) and increased frequencies of IL17a-producing Treg (p = 0.011) was found in LR-subjects before cART onset. Despite increased frequencies of both Treg and Th17 in LR-subject at cART initiation, no alteration of Treg/Th17 ratio was observed. While polifunctional profile of CD4 T-cells was not different, frequencies of CD4 T-cells producing cytokine-combinations including IL17a were increased in LR-subjects.
CONCLUSION
Increased frequencies of Th17, IL17a-producing Treg and CD4 T-cells producing specific IL17a-containing combinations of cytokines, precede the immunodiscordant response to cART, suggesting a potential contribution of these subsets in such anomalous response to cART.
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