T cells with low CD2 levels express reduced restriction factors and are preferentially infected in therapy naive chronic HIV-1 patients

Bolduan, Sebastian; Koppensteiner, Herwig; Businger, Ramona; Rebensburg, Stephanie; Kunze, Christine; Brack-Werner, Ruth; Dränert, Rika and Schindler, Michael (2017): T cells with low CD2 levels express reduced restriction factors and are preferentially infected in therapy naive chronic HIV-1 patients. In: Journal of the international Aids Society, Vol. 20, 21865

Abstract

Introduction: Restriction factors (RFs) suppress HIV-1 in cell lines and primary cell models. Hence, RFs might be attractive targets for novel antiviral strategies, but their importance for virus control in vivo is controversial. Methods: We profiled the expression of RFs in primary blood-derived mononuclear cells (PBMC) from therapy-naive HIV-1 patients and quantified infection. Results: Overall, there was no correlation between individual RF expression and HIV-1 status in total PBMC. However, we identified a T cell population with low levels of intracellular CD2 and reduced expression of SAMHD1, p21 and SerinC5. CD2low T cells with reduced RF expression were markedly positive for HIV-1 p24. In contrast, CD2+ T cells were less infected and expressed higher levels of RFs. CD2low T cell infection correlated with viral loads and was associated with HIV-1 disease progression. Conclusions: In untreated therapy naive chronic HIV-1 patients, RF expression in T cells is associated with CD2 expression and seems to influence viral loads. Our study suggests that RFs help to control HIV-1 infection in certain T cells in vivo and supports the potential for RFs as promising targets for therapeutic intervention.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Medicine
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health
• ISSN: 1758-2652
• Language: English