Related Experiment Videos
Th1/Th2 shift in HIV lymph nodes: no contribution of CD6o cells
J R Bogner1, R Walli, F D Goebel
1Med. Poliklinik, Dept. of Infectious Diseases, University of Munich, Germany. jobogner@pk-i.med.uni-muenchen.de
Insights
A shift in Th1/Th2 cytokine production during HIV infection was only observed in CD4+ lymphocytes, not in CD8+ or CD60+ cells. This suggests the CD60+ subset does not contribute to the Th1/Th2 shift in HIV immunopathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- HIV infection is associated with an expansion of CD8+60+ cells exhibiting Th2 helper function.
- A Th1/Th2 shift in late-stage HIV infection may be linked to the functional activity of specific lymphocyte subsets.
- Understanding cytokine production in lymph node (LN) lymphocytes is crucial for comprehending HIV immunopathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ability of lymph node (LN) lymphocytes to produce Th1 and Th2 type cytokines in individuals with HIV.
- To compare cytokine production profiles in early versus late stages of HIV infection.
Main Methods:
- Lymph node (LN) lymphocytes were stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), ionomycin, and brefeldin A.
- Flow cytometry was used to determine the percentage of cytokine-producing lymphocytes (CPL) after intracellular staining for IFN-gamma (Th1), IL-4, and IL-10 (Th2).
- Surface staining for CD4, CD8, and CD60 was performed; LN from early and late-stage HIV patients were analyzed.
Main Results:
- In early HIV stages, CD4+ lymphocytes showed a 1.9-fold higher percentage of Th1 CPL compared to Th2 CPL.
- In late HIV stages, no significant difference was found between Th1 and Th2 responding CD4+ cells.
- No Th1/Th2 shift was detected in the CD8+ or CD60+ subsets in either early or late HIV infection stages; CD8+60+ cells predominantly produced Th2 cytokines.
Conclusions:
- A shift in cytokine production at the single-cell level in LN lymphocytes during HIV infection is primarily confined to the CD4+ subset.
- The CD60+ subset does not appear to contribute to the Th1/Th2 shift observed in the immunopathogenesis of HIV.
- These findings highlight the specific role of CD4+ T cells in the immune response dynamics during HIV infection.
Background:
An expansion of CD8+60+ cells with Th2 type helper function has been observed in HIV-infected individuals. A Th1/Th2 shift in late HIV infection might be related to the functional activity of this subset. Our objective was to test the ability of lymph node (LN) lymphocytes to produce cytokines of the Th1 and Th2 type.
Patients And Methods:
LN cells were stimulated with PMA in the presence of ionomycin and brefeldin A. After surface staining for CD4, CD8 and CD60 and intracellular staining for interferon gamma (IFNgamma), interleukin 2 (IL-2) or IL-4 and IL-10, the percentage of cytokine producing lymphocytes (CPL) was determined by flow cytometry. LN of nine individuals in the early stage of HIV infection were compared to late stage patients.
Results:
CD4+ subset: in early stages of HIV infection the percentage of Th1 CPL was 1.9 times higher than that of Th2 CPL. In late stages of infection the Th1 responding cells were not found more frequently than Th2 ceLLs. CD8+ subset: no Th1/Th2 shift was detected during early or late stages of HIV infection. CD60+ subset: a maximum of 32.1 +/- 7.8% of double positive cells of the CD8+60+ type produced Th2 type cytokines. A small percentage (< 8%) of CD60+ cells also produced Th1 cytokines. No shift in the cytokine production was seen in early or late stages of infection.
Conclusion:
At single cell level a shift in cytokine production in LN cells can only be detected in the CD4+ subset. Thus, the CD60+ subset does not seem to contribute to the putative Th1/Th2 shift attributed to the immunopathogenesis of HIV-induced destruction of the immune system.