Distribution of HIV-specific and Total CD8+ T-cell Memory Phenotypes during Acute/early HIV Infection is Associated with Disease Progression

YANINA GHIGLIONE ; JULIANA FALIVENE; MARÍA JULIA RUIZ; NATALIA LAUFER; MARÍA EUGENIA SOCIAS; PEDRO CAHN; OMAR SUED; HORACIO SALOMÓN; MARÍA MAGDALENA GHERARDI; GABRIELA TURK

Sitges

Congreso; 7th Vaccine & ISV Congress; 2013

Background: Memory CD8+ T-cells are important components of protective immunity. Understanding their development during primary HIV-infection (PHI) would contribute to optimal vaccine design. Aim: To analyze total and HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell differentiation phenotypes, during acute/early infection, and their correlation with clinical parameters. Methods: Twelve HIV+ seroconverters (PHI group), 6 elite controllers (EC) and 4 Chronics were enrolled. Seroconverters were classified as ?PHInaïve (Tnaive)>effector memory (TEM)>central memory (TCM) in all groups. However, EC showed higher proportion of Tnaive (38.3%) compared to Chronics (17.44%, p=0.0027) and PHI subjects (29.63%, p>0.05). EC had the lowest proportion of TE cells (53.18%). TEM was higher in Chronics (19.09%) compared to EC (4.71%, p=0.0046) and PHI (4.59%, p=0.0001). Regarding HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell compartment, the same significant trends were observed among groups. Moreover, PHI>350 had two-fold higher proportion of Tnaive-like cells than PHI