TB-IRIS, T-cell activation, and remodeling of the T-cell compartment in highly immunosuppressed HIV-infected patients with TB

AIDS. 2015 Jan 28;29(3):263-73. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000000546.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the impact of tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (TB-IRIS) upon immunological recovery and the T-cell compartment after initiation of TB and antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Design and methods: We prospectively evaluated T-cell immunophenotypes by flow cytometry and cytokines by Luminex assays in a subset (n = 154) of highly immunosuppressed HIV-infected patients with TB from the Cambodian Early versus Late Introduction of Antiretrovirals randomized clinical trial. We compared findings from patients who developed TB-IRIS with findings from patients who did not develop TB-IRIS. Data were evaluated with mixed-effect linear regression, Kaplan-Meier estimates, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, and q-values were calculated to control for multiple comparisons.

Results: Development of TB-IRIS was associated with significantly greater pre-ART frequencies of HLA-DRCD45ROCD4, CCR5CD4, OX40CD4, and Fas effector memory CD8 T cells, and significantly elevated levels of plasma interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-10, and viral load. Post-ART initiation, effector memory CD4 and Fas effector memory CD4 T-cell frequencies significantly expanded, and central memory CD4 T-cell frequencies significantly contracted in patients who experienced TB-IRIS. By week 34 post-TB treatment initiation, effector memory/central memory CD4 T-cell ratios were markedly higher in TB-IRIS versus non-TB-IRIS patients.

Conclusions: A distinct pattern of pre-ART T-cell and cytokine markers appear to poise the immune response of certain patients to develop TB-IRIS. Experience of TB-IRIS is then associated with long-term remodeling of the CD4 T-cell memory compartment towards an effector memory-dominated phenotype. We speculate that these pre and post-ART TB-IRIS-associated immune parameters may contribute to superior immune control of TB/HIV co-infection and better clinical outcome.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cambodia
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome / immunology
  • Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome / pathology*
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tuberculosis / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Tuberculosis / pathology

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents
  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Cytokines