Immune changes occurring after primary HIV infection (PHI) have a pivotal relevance. Our objective was to characterize the polyfunctionality of immune response triggered by PHI, and to characterize immune activation and regulatory T cells, correlating such features to disease progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We followed 11 patients experiencing PHI for 4 years. By polychromatic flow cytometry, we studied every month, for the first 6 months, T lymphocyte polyfunctionality after cell stimulation with peptides derived from HIV-1 gag and nef. Tregs were identified by flow cytometry, and T cell activation studied by CD38 and HLA-DR expression. RESULTS: An increase of anti-gag and anti-nef CD8+ specific T cells was observed 3 months after PHI; however, truly polyfunctional T cells, also able to produce IL-2, were never found. No gross changes in Tregs were present. T lymphocyte activation was maximal 1 and 2 months after PHI, and significantly decreased in the following period. The level of activation two months after PHI was strictly correlated to the plasma viral load 1 year after infection, and significantly influenced the length of period without therapy. Indeed, 80% of patients with less than the median value of activated CD8+ (15.5%) or CD4+ (0.9%) T cells remained free of therapy for >46 months, while all patients over the median value had to start treatment within 26 months. CONCLUSIONS: T cell activation after PHI, more than T cell polyfunctionality or Tregs, is a predictive marker for the control of viral load and for the time required to start treatment.

T cell activation but not polyfunctionality after primary HIV infection predicts control of viral load and length of the time without therapy / Cossarizza, Andrea; Bertoncelli, Linda; Nemes, Elisa; Lugli, Enrico; Pinti, Marcello; Nasi, Milena; DE BIASI, Sara; Gibellini, Lara; Montagna, Jp; Vecchia, M; Manzini, Lisa; Meschiari, Marianna; Borghi, Valentina; Guaraldi, Giovanni; Mussini, Cristina. - In: PLOS ONE. - ISSN 1932-6203. - ELETTRONICO. - 7:(2012), pp. 1-10. [10.1371/journal.pone.0050728]

T cell activation but not polyfunctionality after primary HIV infection predicts control of viral load and length of the time without therapy.

COSSARIZZA, Andrea;BERTONCELLI, Linda;NEMES, Elisa;LUGLI, Enrico;PINTI, Marcello;NASI, Milena;DE BIASI, SARA;GIBELLINI, Lara;MANZINI, Lisa;MESCHIARI, MARIANNA;BORGHI, Valentina;GUARALDI, Giovanni;MUSSINI, Cristina
2012

Abstract

Immune changes occurring after primary HIV infection (PHI) have a pivotal relevance. Our objective was to characterize the polyfunctionality of immune response triggered by PHI, and to characterize immune activation and regulatory T cells, correlating such features to disease progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We followed 11 patients experiencing PHI for 4 years. By polychromatic flow cytometry, we studied every month, for the first 6 months, T lymphocyte polyfunctionality after cell stimulation with peptides derived from HIV-1 gag and nef. Tregs were identified by flow cytometry, and T cell activation studied by CD38 and HLA-DR expression. RESULTS: An increase of anti-gag and anti-nef CD8+ specific T cells was observed 3 months after PHI; however, truly polyfunctional T cells, also able to produce IL-2, were never found. No gross changes in Tregs were present. T lymphocyte activation was maximal 1 and 2 months after PHI, and significantly decreased in the following period. The level of activation two months after PHI was strictly correlated to the plasma viral load 1 year after infection, and significantly influenced the length of period without therapy. Indeed, 80% of patients with less than the median value of activated CD8+ (15.5%) or CD4+ (0.9%) T cells remained free of therapy for >46 months, while all patients over the median value had to start treatment within 26 months. CONCLUSIONS: T cell activation after PHI, more than T cell polyfunctionality or Tregs, is a predictive marker for the control of viral load and for the time required to start treatment.
2012
7
1
10
T cell activation but not polyfunctionality after primary HIV infection predicts control of viral load and length of the time without therapy / Cossarizza, Andrea; Bertoncelli, Linda; Nemes, Elisa; Lugli, Enrico; Pinti, Marcello; Nasi, Milena; DE BIASI, Sara; Gibellini, Lara; Montagna, Jp; Vecchia, M; Manzini, Lisa; Meschiari, Marianna; Borghi, Valentina; Guaraldi, Giovanni; Mussini, Cristina. - In: PLOS ONE. - ISSN 1932-6203. - ELETTRONICO. - 7:(2012), pp. 1-10. [10.1371/journal.pone.0050728]
Cossarizza, Andrea; Bertoncelli, Linda; Nemes, Elisa; Lugli, Enrico; Pinti, Marcello; Nasi, Milena; DE BIASI, Sara; Gibellini, Lara; Montagna, Jp; Vecchia, M; Manzini, Lisa; Meschiari, Marianna; Borghi, Valentina; Guaraldi, Giovanni; Mussini, Cristina
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/963731
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