CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in HIV infection

The immune system faces the difficult task of discerning between foreign, potentially pathogen-derived antigens and self-antigens. Several mechanisms, including deletion of self-reactive T cells in the thymus, have been shown to contribute to the acceptance of self-antigens and the reciprocal reactivity to foreign antigens. Over the last decade it has become increasingly clear that CD4(+)CD25(+) T(Reg) cells are crucial for maintenance of T cell tolerance to self-antigens in the periphery, and to avoid development of autoimmune disorders. Recently, evidence has also emerged that demonstrates that CD4(+)CD25(+) T(Reg) cells can also suppress T cell responses to foreign pathogens, including viruses such as HIV. In this article we review the current knowledge and potential role of CD4(+)CD25(+) T(Reg) cells in HIV infection.     

Human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-specific CD4+ T cells: immunodominance hierarchy and preferential infection with HTLV-I

CD4(+) T cells predominate in early lesions in the CNS in the inflammatory disease human lymphotropic T cell virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), but the pathogenesis of the disease remains unclear and the HTLV-I-specific CD4(+) T cell response has been little studied. We quantified the IFN-gamma-producing HTLV-I-specific CD4(+) T cells, in patients with HAM/TSP and in asymptomatic carriers with high proviral load, to test two hypotheses: that HAM/TSP patients and asymptomatic HTLV-I carriers with a similar proviral load differ in the immunodominance hierarchy or the total frequency of specific CD4(+) T cells, and that HTLV-I-specific CD4(+) T cells are preferentially infected with HTLV-I. The strongest CD4(+) T cell response in both HAM/TSP patients and asymptomatic carriers was specific to Env. This contrasts with the immunodominance of Tax in the HTLV-I-specific CD8(+) T cell response. The median frequency of HTLV-I-specific IFN-gamma(+) CD4(+) T cells was 25-fold greater in patients with HAM/TSP (p = 0.0023, Mann-Whitney) than in asymptomatic HTLV-I carriers with a similar proviral load. Furthermore, the frequency of CD4(+) T cells infected with HTLV-I (expressing Tax protein) was significantly greater (p = 0.0152, Mann-Whitney) among HTLV-I-specific cells than CMV-specific cells. These data were confirmed by quantitative PCR for HTLV-I DNA. We conclude that the high frequency of specific CD4(+) T cells was associated with the disease HAM/TSP, and did not simply reflect the higher proviral load that is usually found in HAM/TSP patients. Finally, we conclude that HTLV-I-specific CD4(+) T cells are preferentially infected with HTLV-I.     

Mathematical analysis of the global dynamics of a model for HIV infection of CD4+ T cells

A mathematical model that describes HIV infection of CD4(+) T cells is analyzed. Global dynamics of the model is rigorously established. We prove that, if the basic reproduction number R(0) < or = 1, the HIV infection is cleared from the T-cell population; if R(0) > 1, the HIV infection persists. For an open set of parameter values, the chronic-infection equilibrium P* can be unstable and periodic solutions may exist. We establish parameter regions for which P* is globally stable.     

Dynamics of CD4+ T cells in HIV-1 infection

Mathematical modeling is becoming established in the immunologist's toolbox as a method to gain insight into the dynamics of the immune response and its components. No more so than in the case of the study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, where earlier work on the viral dynamics brought significant advances in our understanding of HIV replication and evolution. Here, I review different areas of the study of the dynamics of CD4+ T cells in the setting of HIV, where modeling played important and diverse roles in helping us understand CD4+ T-cell homeostasis and the effect of HIV infection. As the experimental techniques become more accurate and quantitative, modeling should play a more important part in both experimental design and data analysis.     

Requirement for CD4+ T cells in V beta 4+CD8+ T cell activation associated with latent murine gammaherpesvirus infection.

A CD8+ T cell lymphocytosis in the peripheral blood is associated with the establishment of latency following intranasal infection with murine gammaherpesvirus-68. Remarkably, a large percentage of the activated CD8+ T cells of mice expressing different MHC haplotypes express V beta 4+ TCR. Identification of the ligand driving the V beta 4+CD8+ T cell activation remains elusive, but there is a general correlation between V beta 4+CD8+ T cell stimulatory activity and establishment of latency in the spleen. In the current study, the role of CD4+ T cells in the V beta 4+CD8+ T cell expansion has been addressed. The results show that CD4+ T cells are essential for expansion of the V beta 4+CD8+ subset, but not other V beta subsets, in the peripheral blood. CD4+ T cells are required relatively late in the antiviral response, between 7 and 11 days after infection, and mediate their effect independently of IFN-gamma. Assessment of V beta 4+CD8+ T cell stimulatory activity using murine gammaherpesvirus-68-specific T cell hybridomas generated from latently infected mice supports the idea that CD4+ T cells control levels of the stimulatory ligand that drives the V beta 4+CD8+ T cells. As V beta 4+CD8+ T cell expansion also correlates with levels of activated B cells, these data raise the possibility that CD4+ T cell-mediated B cell activation is required for optimal expression of the stimulatory ligand. In addition, in cases of low ligand expression, there may also be a direct role for CD4+ T cell-mediated help for V beta 4+CD8+ T cells.     

Generation of antifungal effector CD8+ T cells in the absence of CD4+ T cells during Cryptococcus neoformans infection

Immunity to the opportunistic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans is dependent on cell-mediated immunity. Individuals with defects in cellular immunity, CD4(+) T cells in particular, are susceptible to infection with this pathogen. In host defense against a number of pathogens, CD8(+) T cell responses are dependent upon CD4(+) T cell help. The goal of these studies was to determine whether CD4(+) T cells are required for the generation of antifungal CD8(+) T cell effectors during pulmonary C. neoformans infection. Using a murine intratracheal infection model, our results demonstrated that CD4(+) T cells were not required for the expansion and trafficking of CD8(+) T cells to the site of infection. CD4(+) T cells were also not required for the generation of IFN-gamma-producing CD8(+) T cell effectors in the lungs. In CD4(-) mice, depletion of CD8(+) T cells resulted in increased intracellular infection of pulmonary macrophages by C. neoformans, increasing the pulmonary burden of the infection. Neutralization of IFN-gamma in CD4(-)CD8(+) mice similarly increased macrophage infection by C. neoformans, thereby blocking the protection provided by CD8(+) T cells. Altogether, these data support the hypothesis that effector CD8(+) T cell function is independent of CD4(+) T cells and that IFN-gamma production from CD8(+) T cells plays a role in controlling C. neoformans by limiting survival of C. neoformans within macrophages.     

Insights into CD4+ memory T cells following Leishmania infection

Recent publications by Zaph et al. have highlighted the distinct requirements for generating and maintaining different subpopulations of CD4(+) memory T cells after infection with Leishmania major in mice. These studies have advanced the understanding of the nature of long-lasting immunity to Leishmania and, when considered within the context of previous work on both murine and human leishmaniasis, will aid the design of effective vaccines.     

T cells with a CD4+CD25+ regulatory phenotype suppress in vitro proliferation of virus-specific CD8+ T cells during chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with impaired proliferative, cytokine, and cytotoxic effector functions of HCV-specific CD8(+) T cells that probably contribute significantly to viral persistence. Here, we investigated the potential role of T cells with a CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory phenotype in suppressing virus-specific CD8(+) T-cell proliferation during chronic HCV infection. In vitro depletion studies and coculture experiments revealed that peptide specific proliferation as well as gamma interferon production of HCV-specific CD8(+) T cells were inhibited by CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells. This inhibition was dose dependent, required direct cell-cell contact, and was independent of interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor beta. Interestingly, the T-cell-mediated suppression in chronically HCV-infected patients was not restricted to HCV-specific CD8(+) T cells but also to influenza virus-specific CD8(+) T cells. Importantly, CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells from persons recovered from HCV infection and from healthy blood donors exhibited significantly less suppressor activity. Thus, the inhibition of virus-specific CD8(+) T-cell proliferation was enhanced in chronically HCV-infected patients. This was associated with a higher frequency of circulating CD4(+)CD25(+) cells observed in this patient group. Taken together, our results suggest that chronic HCV infection leads to the expansion of CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells that are able to suppress CD8(+) T-cell responses to different viral antigens. Our results further suggest that CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells may contribute to viral persistence in chronically HCV-infected patients and may be a target for immunotherapy of chronic hepatitis C.     

CD4+CD8+ T cells represent a significant portion of the anti-HIV T cell response to acute HIV infection

Previous studies have revealed that HIV-infected individuals possess circulating CD4(+)CD8(+) double-positive (DP) T cells specific for HIV Ags. In the present study, we analyzed the proliferation and functional profile of circulating DP T cells from 30 acutely HIV-infected individuals and 10 chronically HIV-infected viral controllers. The acutely infected group had DP T cells that showed more proliferative capability and multifunctionality than did both their CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. DP T cells were found to exhibit greater proliferation and higher multifunctionality compared with CD4 T cells in the viral controller group. The DP T cell response represented 16% of the total anti-HIV proliferative response and >70% of the anti-HIV multifunctional response in the acutely infected subjects. Proliferating DP T cells of the acutely infected subjects responded to all HIV Ag pools with equal magnitude. Conversely, the multifunctional response was focused on the pool representing Nef, Rev, Tat, VPR, and VPU. Meanwhile, the controllers' DP T cells focused on Gag and the Nef, Rev, Tat, VPR, and VPU pool for both their proliferative and multifunctional responses. Finally, we show that the presence of proliferating DP T cells following all HIV Ag stimulations is well correlated with proliferating CD4 T cells whereas multifunctionality appears to be largely independent of multifunctionality in other T cell compartments. Therefore, DP T cells represent a highly reactive cell population during acute HIV infection, which responds independently from the traditional T cell compartments.     

CXCR6+CD4+ T cells promote mortality during Trypanosoma brucei infection

Liver macrophages internalize circulating bloodborne parasites. It remains poorly understood how this process affects the fate of the macrophages and T cell responses in the liver. Here, we report that infection by Trypanosoma brucei induced depletion of macrophages in the liver, leading to the repopulation of CXCL16-secreting intrahepatic macrophages, associated with substantial accumulation of CXCR6⁺CD4⁺ T cells in the liver. Interestingly, disruption of CXCR6 signaling did not affect control of the parasitemia, but significantly enhanced the survival of infected mice, associated with reduced inflammation and liver injury. Infected CXCR6 deficient mice displayed a reduced accumulation of CD4⁺ T cells in the liver; adoptive transfer experiments suggested that the reduction of CD4⁺ T cells in the liver was attributed to a cell intrinsic property of CXCR6 deficient CD4⁺ T cells. Importantly, infected CXCR6 deficient mice receiving wild-type CD4⁺ T cells survived significantly shorter than those receiving CXCR6 deficient CD4⁺ T cells, demonstrating that CXCR6⁺CD4⁺ T cells promote the mortality. We conclude that infection of T. brucei leads to depletion and repopulation of liver macrophages, associated with a substantial influx of CXCR6⁺CD4⁺ T cells that mediates mortality.     

CD8+ T cells inhibit HIV replication in naturally infected CD4+ T cells. Evidence for a soluble inhibitor

This study describes the inhibitory effect exerted by activated CD8+ T cells on the replication of HIV in naturally infected CD4+ T cells. Highly purified CD4+ T cells from asymptomatic HIV seropositive individuals were stimulated with anti-TCR mAb-coated beads in the presence of IL-2. HIV was subsequently reproducibly isolated in cell supernatants from all study participants (53 cultures from 42 individuals). Both autologous and allogeneic CD8+ T cells from asymptomatic HIV seropositive and healthy HIV seronegative individuals inhibited the replication of HIV in these cultures in a dose-dependent manner. CD8+ T cells from patients with AIDS showed reduced or no such inhibitory activity. The inhibitory effect was not dependent on direct cell-cell contact: an inhibitory effect was exerted by CD8+ T cells across a semipermeable membrane, and an inhibitory activity was also exerted by the cell-free supernatants from activated CD8+ T cells. These results suggest that activated CD8+ T cells secrete a soluble inhibitor of HIV replication.     

A new dynamic model of CD8+ T effector cell responses via CD4+ T helper-antigen-presenting cells

A long-standing paradox in cellular immunology has been the conditional requirement for CD4(+) Th cells in priming of CD8(+) CTL responses. We propose a new dynamic model of CD4(+) Th cells in priming of Th-dependent CD8(+) CTL responses. We demonstrate that OT II CD4(+) T cells activated by OVA-pulsed dendritic cells (DC(OVA)) are Th1 phenotype. They acquire the immune synapse-composed MHC II/OVAII peptide complexes and costimulatory molecules (CD54 and CD80) as well as the bystander MHC class I/OVAI peptide complexes from the DC(OVA) by DC(OVA) stimulation and thus also the potential to act themselves as APCs. These CD4(+) Th-APCs stimulate naive OT I CD8(+) T cell proliferation through signal 1 (MHC I/OVAI/TCR) and signal 2 (e.g., CD54/LFA-1 and CD80/CD28) interactions and IL-2 help. In vivo, they stimulate CD8(+) T cell proliferation and differentiation into CTLs and induce effective OVA-specific antitumor immunity. Taken together, this study demonstrates that CD4(+) Th cells carrying acquired DC Ag-presenting machinery can, by themselves, efficiently stimulate CTL responses. These results have substantial implications for research in antitumor and other aspects of immunity.     

Nuclear factor of activated T cells is a driving force for preferential productive HIV-1 infection of CD45RO-expressing CD4+ T cells

Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) preferentially replicates in CD4-expressing T cells bearing a "memory" (CD45RO+) rather than a "naive" (CD45RA+/CD62L+) phenotype. Yet the basis for the higher susceptibility of these cells to HIV-1 infection remains unclear. Because the nature of the CD45 isoform itself can affect biochemical events in T cells, we set out to determine whether these isoforms could differently modulate HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) activity and thereby replication. Through the use of CD4+ Jurkat T cells specifically expressing distinct CD45 isoforms (i.e. CD45RABC or CD45RO), we demonstrated that a difference in CD45 isoform expression conferred preferential replication of HIV-1 to CD45RO-expressing T cell clones following a physiological CD3/CD28 stimulation. Closer analysis indicated that higher HIV-1 LTR activation levels were consistently observed in CD45RO-positive cells, which was paralleled by more pronounced nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) activation in these same cells. Specific involvement of NFAT1 was revealed in studied Jurkat clones by mobility shift analyses. In addition, preferential activation of the LTR and viral replication in CD45RO T cells was FK506- and cyclosporin A-sensitive. These results underscore the importance of NFAT in HIV-1 regulation and for the first time identify the role of the CD45 isoform in limiting productive HIV-1 replication to the human CD4 memory T cell subset.     

Influence of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells on low/high-avidity CD4+ T cells following peptide vaccination

We have recently reported that NY-ESO-1-specific naive CD4+ T cell precursors exist in most individuals but are suppressed by CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), while memory CD4+ T cell effectors against NY-ESO-1 are found only in cancer patients with spontaneous Ab responses to NY-ESO-1. In this study, we have analyzed mechanisms of CD4+ T cell induction following peptide vaccination in relation to susceptibility to Tregs. Specific HLA-DP4-restricted CD4+ T cell responses were elicited after vaccination with NY-ESO-1(157-170) peptide (emulsified in IFA) in patients with NY-ESO-1-expressing epithelial ovarian cancer. These vaccine-induced CD4+ T cells were detectable from effector/memory populations without requirement for in vitro CD4+CD25+ T cell depletion. However, they were only able to recognize NY-ESO-1(157-170) peptide but not naturally processed NY-ESO-1 protein and had much lower avidity compared with NY-ESO-1-specific pre-existing naive CD4+CD25- T cell precursors or spontaneously induced CD4+ T cell effectors of cancer patients with NY-ESO-1 Ab. We propose that vaccination with NY-ESO-1(157-170) peptide recruits low-avidity T cells with low sensitivity to Tregs and fails to modulate the suppressive effect of Tregs on high-avidity NY-ESO-1-specific T cell precursors.     

The involvement of CD4+CD25+ T cells in the acute phase of Trypanosoma cruzi infection

The infection with Trypanosoma cruzi leads to a vigorous and apparently uncontrolled inflammatory response in the heart. Although the parasites trigger specific immune response, the infection is not completely cleared out, a phenomenon that in other parasitic infections has been attributed to CD4+CD25+ T cells (Tregs). Then, we examined the role of natural Tregs and its signaling through CD25 and GITR in the resistance against infection with T. cruzi. Mice were treated with mAb against CD25 and GITR and the parasitemia, mortality and heart pathology analyzed. First, we demonstrated that CD4+CD25+GITR+Foxp3+ T cells migrate to the heart of infected mice. The treatment with anti-CD25 or anti-GITR resulted in increased mortality of these infected animals. Moreover, the treatment with anti-GITR enhanced the myocarditis, with increased migration of CD4+, CD8+, and CCR5+ leukocytes, TNF-alpha production, and tissue parasitism, although it did not change the systemic nitric oxide synthesis. These data showed a limited role for CD25 signaling in controlling the inflammatory response during this protozoan infection. Also, the data suggested that signaling through GITR is determinant to control of the heart inflammation, parasite replication, and host resistance against the infection.     

Memory CD8+ T cells in HIV infection

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play a central role in the control of persistent HIV infection in humans. The kinetics and general features of the CTL response are similar to those found during other persisting virus infections in humans. During chronic infection there are commonly between 0.1 and 1.0% of all CD8+ T cells in the blood that are specific for immunodominant virus epitopes, as measured by HLA class I peptide tetramers. These figures are greatly in excess of the numbers found by limiting dilution assays; the discrepancy may arise because in the latter assay, CTLs have to divide many times to be detected and many of the HIV-specific CD8+ T cells circulating in infected persons may be incapable of further division. Many tetramer-positive T cells make interferon-gamma, beta-chemokines and perforin, so are probably functional. It is not known how fast these T cells turn over, but in the absence of antigen they decay in number. Impairment of CTL replacement, because CD4+ T helper cells are depleted by HIV infection, may play a major role in the development of AIDS.     

Regulatory CD4+ T cells are crucial for preventing CD8+ T cell-mediated autoimmunity

In vivo studies have shown that regulatory CD4(+) T cells regulate conventional CD4(+) T cell responses to self- and environmental Ags. However, it remains unclear whether regulatory CD4(+) T cells control CD8(+) T cell responses to self, directly, or indirectly by decreasing available CD4(+) T cell help. We have developed an experimental mouse model in which suppressive and helper T cells cannot mediate their functions. The mouse chimeras generated were not viable and rapidly developed multiple organ autoimmunity. These features were correlated with strong CD8(+) T cell activation and accumulation in both lymphoid and nonlymphoid organs. In vivo Ab treatment and secondary transfer experiments demonstrated that regulatory CD4(+) T cells play an important direct role in the prevention of peripheral CD8(+) T cell-mediated autoimmunity.