Bacterial antigen activation of Vdelta1 and Vdelta2 gammadelta T cells of persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 175; no. 2; p. 429
• Main Authors: Chervenak, K A, Lederman, M M, Boom, W H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 01.02.1997
• Subjects: Antigens, Bacterial - immunology; Antigens, Fungal - immunology; Candida albicans - immunology; Flow Cytometry; HIV Core Protein p24 - biosynthesis; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV-1 - growth & development; Humans; Interferon-gamma - metabolism; Interleukin-2 - immunology; Lymphocyte Activation; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - immunology; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta - immunology; Salmonella typhimurium - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; T-Lymphocytes - immunology
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/175.2.429

Vdelta2 gammadelta T cells are readily activated by microbial antigens. In persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the number of gammadelta T cells remains the same or increases in association with reversal of the Vdelta2/Vdelta1 ratio from > or = 1 to < 1. Vdelta2 T cell responses to microbial antigens were tested in 11 HIV-1-infected (> or = 500 CD4 cells/mm3) and 7 uninfected persons. In persons with HIV-1 infection, Mycobacterium tuberculosis expanded Vdelta2 cells in 1 person as did Salmonella typhimurium in 4; however, Candida albicans antigens did not lead to more Vdelta2 cells. Vdelta2 responses to M. tuberculosis were enhanced by interleukin (IL)-2 in HIV-1-infected persons (from 1 subject to 7; P < .01) and were associated with increased interferon-gamma production. Bacterial antigens and IL-2 increased HIV-1 replication; M. tuberculosis antigens induced the greatest increase. Thus, in HIV-1-infected persons with > or = 500 CD4 cells/mm3, Vdelta2 T cell responses to bacterial antigens remain intact.