Abstract
CD4+ T cell dysfunction in HIV-1 infection is associated with increased CTLA-4 and TGF-β expression. In this study we described a population of TGF-β-positive CD4+ T cells with multiple HIV specificities. These HIV-specific TGF-β-positive CD4+ T cells did not display the immunophenotypic patterns traditionally attributed to regulatory CD4+ T cells. TGF-β-positive CD4+ T cells were FOXP3 negative, CD25 negative, and displayed a heterogeneous surface expression of CD127. We also examined one potential mechanism for regulating TGF-β expression by HIV-specific CD4+ T cells. Blocking of the TGF-β receptor II led to increased HIV-specific IFN-γ-positive CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses. Interestingly, HIV-specific TGF-β-positive CD4+ T cells did not substantially express CTLA-4. Nevertheless, CTLA-4 blockade resulted in a significant decrease in HIV-specific TGF-β-positive CD4+ T cell responses, and a concomitant increase in HIV-specific IFN-γ-positive CD4+ T cell responses. Our study proposes a mechanism by which HIV-specific TGF-β production may be regulated by CTLA-4 engagement.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 329-337 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1 2010 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases