CD4+ and CD8+ T cell activation are associated with HIV DNA in resting CD4+ T cells

Abstract

The association between the host immune environment and the size of the HIV reservoir during effective antiretroviral therapy is not clear. Progress has also been limited by the lack of a well-accepted assay for quantifying HIV during therapy. We examined the association between multiple measurements of HIV and T cell activation (as defined by markers including CD38, HLA-DR, CCR5 and PD-1) in 30 antiretroviral-treated HIV-infected adults. We found a consistent association between the frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing HLA-DR and the frequency of resting CD4+ T cells containing HIV DNA. This study highlights the need to further examine this relationship and to better characterize the biology of markers commonly used in HIV studies. These results may also have implications for reactivation strategies.

Figure 1. Markers of T cell activation are associated with levels of HIV DNA in resting CD4⁺ T cells.

Scatter plots of the association between markers of T cell activation and Log₁₀ copies of HIV DNA in 10⁶ resting CD4⁺ T cells as measured by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) are shown. Linear regression lines are also shown. Of note, n = 16 as ddPCR in resting CD4⁺ T cells was not performed for every subject due to cell availability.

Figure 2. The frequency of HIV-specific CD4+ T cells is associated with HIV DNA levels in resting CD4⁺ T cells.

Scatter plot of the association between the frequency of HIV-specific CD4+ T cells expressing TNF- α, IL-21, IFN- γ, and IL-2, and Log₁₀ copies of HIV DNA as measured by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Linear regression lines are also shown.