Increased proportion of the highly permissive Th17 cell profile during HIV-1 infection after Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF)-CD74 axis signaling

CÉSAR TRIFONE; LUCIA BAQUERO; ALEJANDRO CZERNIKIER; JIMENA SALIDO; LIN LENG; HORACIO SALOMÓN; FLORENCIA QUIROGA; RICHARD BUCALA; YANINA GHIGLIONE; GABRIELA TURK

Conferencia; 23rd INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE; 2020

INTERNATIONAL AIDS SOCIETY - IAS

MIF plasma levels are increased in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). In vitro, treatment of HIV-infected primary monocyte-derived-macrophages (MDMs) with MIF generates a pro-inflammatory environment which fosters HIV-1 infection/replication in non-activated CD4 + T-lymphocytes (CD4TLs). However, whether MIF exerts an effect on CD4TL activation and/or profiling during the infection is unknown. Aim: To evaluate the role of MIF in CD4TL functionduring HIV infection.CD4TLs and MDMs were obtained from healthy donors. MDMs were infected with HIV-1 and allogeneic MDMs-CD4TLs co-cultures plus 25 ng/ml MIF were assayed. Also, stimulation was performed with MIF-neutralizing reagents. Likewise, PBMCs from PLWHA were treated with MIF. Soluble cytokine production was evaluated by ELISA. Intracellular cytokine and transcription factor expression were evaluated by flow cytometry. Data was analyzed by parametric or non-parametric methods. MIF stimulation induced the expression of IL-6 (p=0.013) and IL-1b(p