Sequential Dysfunction and Progressive Depletion of Candida albicans-Specific CD4 T Cell Response in HIV-1 Infection

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005663
• Publication Date: 2016-06-09T19:35:17Z
• Authors: Fengliang Liu; Xiuzhen Fan; Sarah Auclair; Monique Ferguson; Jiaren Sun; Lynn Soong; Wei Hou; Robert R. Redfield; Deborah L. Birx; Silvia Ratto-Kim; Merlin L. Robb; Jerome H. Kim; Nelson L. Michael; Haitao Hu
• Keywords: Ex vivo

Loss of immune control over opportunistic infections can occur at different stages HIV-1 (HIV) disease, among which mucosal candidiasis caused by the fungal pathogen Candida albicans (C. albicans) is one early and common manifestations in HIV-infected human subjects. The underlying immunological basis not well defined. We have previously shown that compared to cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific CD4 cells, C. albicans-specific T cells are highly permissive HIV vitro. Here, based on an antiretroviral treatment (ART) naïve infection cohort (RV21), we investigated longitudinally impact albicans- CMV-specific T-cell immunity vivo. found a sequential dysfunction preferential depletion for cell response during progressive infection. Compared Th1 (IFN-γ, MIP-1β) functional subsets, Th17 subsets (IL-17, IL-22) were more vitro impaired earlier Infection history analysis showed susceptible vivo, harboring modestly but significantly higher levels DNA, than cells. Longitudinal individuals with ongoing demonstrated was preferentially progressively depleted. Taken together, these data suggest potential mechanism loss patients provide new insights into pathogen-specific failure AIDS pathogenesis.