High CD45 expression of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells correlates with the size of HIV-1 reservoir in blood

Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 24;10(1):20425. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-77433-z.

Abstract

Using mass cytometry, we investigated the expression of 28 markers on CD8+ and CD4+ T cells from HIV-1 infected patients with a variable size of HIV-1 reservoir defined as high (HR) and low (LR) reservoir; we aimed at identifying phenotypic associations of T cells with size of HIV-1 reservoir. We showed that the frequency of CD45+ CD8+ and CD4+ T cells was directly proportional to the size of HIV-1 reservoir; HR patients had a significantly larger frequency of blood CD45high T cells and higher CD45 expression on both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. CD45 is a receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase essential in TCR signaling. Functional and phenotypical analysis of CD45high cells revealed that they express activation and proliferation markers (CD38 + HLA-DR + and Ki-67) and produce cytokines upon in vitro activation. CD45high T cells also expressed high levels of immune check-point PD-1. Our results link CD45 expression on T cells to HIV-1 reservoir; PD-1 expression on CD45high T cells may contribute to their exhaustion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blood / virology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • HIV Infections / blood
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / metabolism
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Up-Regulation
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • PDCD1 protein, human
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • RNA, Viral
  • Leukocyte Common Antigens
  • PTPRC protein, human