Modification of the HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell response in an HIV Elite Controller after Chikungunya virus infection

JIMENA SALIDO; YAMILA MARTIN; GABRIELA TURK; YANINA GHIGLIONE ; CÉSAR TRIFONE; PATRICIA PATTERSON; MARÍA JULIA RUIZ; OMAR SUED; NATALIA LAUFER

AIDS - AN INTERNATIONAL MONTHLY JOURNAL

LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS

Lugar: Philadelphia; Año: 2016 vol. 30 p. 1905 - 1911

0269-9370

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the impact of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection on the quality of the HIV-specific CD8T-cell (CTL) response in an HIV Elite Controller (EC).DESIGN:Three blood samples were obtained from an EC at 27 days (EC-CHIKV,Sample 1, S1); 41 days (S2) and one year (S3) after CHIKV infection. Additionally, samples from other nine ECs and nine viremic Chronics were obtained.METHODS:CD4 T-cell counts, viral load (VL) and immune activation were recorded. NK cells and HIV-specific CTL quality were evaluated. Data was analysed using non-parametric statistics.RESULTS:A male HIV EC was confirmed for CHIKV infection. At S1, he presented 211 CD4 T-cells/μl, a HIV VL blip (145 copies/ml) and high T-cell activation. NK cell percentage and activation were higher at S2. All parameters were recovered by S3. CTLs at S1 were exclusively monofunctional with a high proportion (>80%) of degranulating CTLs. By S3, CTL polyfunctionality was more similar to that of typical EC. The distribution of CD8T-cell memory subsets also displayed altered profiles.CONCLUSIONS:The results showed that the phenotype and function of HIV-specific CTLs were modified in temporal association with an HIV VL blip that followed CHIKV infection. This might have help to control the transient HIV rebound. Additionally, NK cells could have been involved in this control. These results provide useful information to help understand how EC maintain their status, control HIV infection and alert about the negative impact to the immune function of HIV-infected subjects living in CHIKV endemic areas.