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T-cell activation and memory phenotypes in cerebrospinal fluid during HIV infection

Jutta K Neuenburg1, Tracey A Cho, Annelie Nilsson

  • 1Department of Neurology, San Francisco General Hospital, General Clinical Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. juttan@itsa.ucsf.edu

Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (1999)
|April 27, 2005
PubMed

Insights

HIV infection alters T cell populations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood, increasing T cell activation. Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) effectively reduces this T cell activation in both compartments.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Neuroscience
  • Virology

Background:

  • HIV-1 infection can affect the central nervous system (CNS), leading to neurological complications.
  • Understanding T cell dynamics in the CNS is crucial for managing HIV-associated neuroinflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize T cell phenotypes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood of individuals with and without HIV-1 infection.
  • To investigate the impact of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) on T cell activation in these compartments.

Main Methods:

  • Four-color flow cytometry was used to analyze T cell subsets (CD4+, CD8+) in paired CSF and blood samples from 74 participants.
  • T cell activation was assessed using CD38/HLA-DR markers, and memory/naive subsets were identified using CD45RA/CD62L markers.

Main Results:

  • Higher proportions of CD4+ T cells and memory T cells were observed in CSF compared to blood, irrespective of HIV status.
  • HIV-infected individuals showed increased activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in CSF relative to uninfected controls.
  • ART significantly reduced T cell activation in both CSF and blood.

Conclusions:

  • HIV infection is associated with distinct T cell profiles in the CNS, characterized by increased T cell activation.
  • ART demonstrates efficacy in mitigating T cell activation within both the CNS and peripheral blood compartments.
  • These findings highlight the importance of monitoring immune responses within the CNS during HIV infection management.

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