Cells in Viral Suppression and Cytotoxicity in HIV Controllers

Background: HIV controllers (HIC) are rare HIV-1-infected patients who exhibit spontaneous viral control. HIC have high frequency of CD382 / HLA-DR+ HIV-specific CD8 + T cells. Here we examined the role of this subset in HIC status. Materials and Methods: We compared CD382 / HLA-DR+ CD8 + T cells with the classical CD38+ / HLA-DR+ activated phenotype in terms of 1) their activation status, reflected by CD69, CD25, CD71, CD40 and Ki67 expression, 2) functional parameters: Bcl-2 expression, proliferative capacity, and IFN-c and IL-2 production, and 3) cytotoxic activity. We also investigated how this particular profile is generated. Results: Compared to CD38+ / HLA-DR+ cells, CD382 / HLA-DR+ cells exhibited lower expression of several activation markers, better survival capacity (Bcl-2 MFI, 367 [134–462] vs 638 [307–747], P=0.001), higher frequency of polyfunctional cells (15% [7%–33%] vs 21% [16%–43%], P=0.0003), greater proliferative capacity (0-fold [0–2] vs 3-fold [2–11], P=0.007), and higher cytotoxicity in vitro (7% [3%–11%] vs 13% [6%–22%], P=0.02). The CD382 / HLA-DR+ profile was preferentially generated in response to low viral antigen concentrations. Conclusions: These data highlight the role of CD382 / HLA-DR+ HIV-specific CD8 + T cell cytotoxicity in HIC status and provide insights into the mechanism by which they are generated. Induction of this protective CD8 + subset may be important for vaccine strategies.