Direct measurement of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses to CMV in HIV-1-infected subjects.

Journal article

Data from murine models of chronic viral infection suggest that CD4+ T-cell responses to viral pathogens are important in sustaining the number and/or function of CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) effectors. In this study, we used cytokine flow cytometry (CFC), staining with HLA-A*0201-peptide tetramers, and peptide stimulation with epitopic peptides to study functional CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses to cytomegalovirus (CMV) in human subjects coinfected with CMV and the human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1). We show that strong CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses to CMV antigens are sustained over time in HIV-1-infected individuals. Those who maintain a strong CD4+ T-cell response to CMV are also likely to maintain higher frequencies of CD8+ T cells capable of binding to HLA-A*0201-CMV pp65 (A2-pp65) tetramers as well as responses to pp65 peptide stimulation with effector cytokine production. These data support the hypothesis that declines in frequencies of CD4+ T-cell responses to CMV are associated with an inability to sustain high levels of CMV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses in HIV-1-infected subjects. These declines may precede the onset of CMV-associated end organ disease.

Authors: Komanduri, K; Donahoe, S; Moretto, W; Schmidt, D; Gillespie, G

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Virology
• Volume: 279
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 459-470
• Publication date: 2001-01-01
• DOI: 10.1006/viro.2000.0697
• EISSN: 1096-0341
• ISSN: 0042-6822
• Language: English
• Keywords: Flow Cytometry; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Female; Lymphocyte Count; Humans; Chronic Disease; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Viral Matrix Proteins; HLA-A Antigens; Prospective Studies; Antigens, Viral; HIV-1; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Phosphoproteins; Antibodies, Viral; Cytomegalovirus; HIV Infections; Male