AEGiS-13IAC: Rapid whole blood analysis of virus-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses in persistent HIV infection.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

Rapid whole blood analysis of virus-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses in persistent HIV infection.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. MoOrA223)

Meyerhans A, Sester M, Sester U, Kohler H, Schneider T, Deml L, Wagner R, Mnller-Lantzsch N, Pees H
A. Meyerhans, University of the Saarland, Department of Virology, Building 47, Institute of Medical Microbiology, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany, Tel.: -49-6841-16-3990, Fax: -49-6841-16-3980, E-mail: Andreas.Meyerhans@med-rz.uni-sb.de

BACKGROUND: Upon HIV infection, strong antiviral cytotoxic and helper T-cell responses are generated. They are considered to be an important component in the control of the HIV load. A simple and rapid whole-blood assay was established in order to quantitate and simultaneously characterise HIV-reactive CD4 and CD8 cells.

METHODS: Whole blood of 33 HIV-infected individuals was specifically stimulated by HIV-1 Pr55gag and activation-induced intracellular cytokine expression in CD4 and CD8 T cells was analysed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: HIV-1-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells can be quantitated simultaneously. As specific antigen, HIV-1 Pr55gag virus like particles were superior to soluble protein especially for activation of CD8 T cells. In untreated individuals, a high frequency of HIV-specific T cells was observed. The frequency of CD8 T cells was consistently higher than the respective CD4 T-cell response thus demonstrating a dominance in CD8 T-cell expansion in persistent HIV infection. Patients on antiretroviral therapy showed a significant reduction in HIV-specific CD4 and -even more strikingly- CD8 T-cells.

CONCLUSIONS: The whole blood assay provides a rapid estimate of the total antiviral T-cell resources and is highly suited for a clinical setting. Thus, it may have widespread applications for the evaluation of vaccination strategies and immunotherapy. Since antiretroviral therapy significantly reduces both HIV-specific cytotoxic and helper T-cell responses, future therapeutic strategies should aim at improving cellular antiviral immunity.

Keywords: AEGIS, Antigens, CD8, HIV, HIV Infections, Antigens, CD4, HIV-1, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Anti-HIV Agents, HIV Antigens, HIV Seropositivity, Flow Cytometry, T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer, Human, immunology
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