HIV-specific TGF-β-positive CD4+ T cells do not express regulatory surface markers and are regulated by CTLA-4

Mohamed Elrefaei, Candace M. Burke, Chris A.R. Baker, Norman G. Jones, Stephanie Bousheri, David R. Bangsberg, Huyen Cao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

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 languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)329-337
Number of pages9
JournalAIDS Research and Human Retroviruses
Volume26
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2010
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

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