B-lymphocyte dysfunction in chronic HIV-1 infection does not prevent cross-clade neutralization breadth

J Virol. 2012 Aug;86(15):8031-40. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00771-12. Epub 2012 May 23.

Abstract

Aberrant expression of regulatory receptors programmed death-1 (PD-1) and B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) is linked with dysregulation and exhaustion of T lymphocytes during chronic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection; however, less is known about whether a similar process impacts B-lymphocyte function during HIV-1 infection. We reasoned that disruption of the peripheral B cell compartment might be associated with decreased neutralizing antibody activity. Expression of markers that indicate dysregulation (BTLA and PD-1), immune activation (CD95), and proliferation (Ki-67) was evaluated in B cells from HIV-1-infected viremic and aviremic subjects and healthy subjects, in conjunction with immunoglobulin production and CD4 T cell count. Viral load and cross-clade neutralizing activity in plasma from viremic subjects were also assessed. Dysregulation of B lymphocytes was indicated by a marked disruption of peripheral B cell subsets, increased levels of PD-1 expression, and decreased levels of BTLA expression in viremic subjects compared to aviremic subjects and healthy controls. PD-1 and BTLA were correlated in a divergent fashion with immune activation, CD4 T cell count, and the total plasma IgG level, a functional correlate of B cell dysfunction. Within viremic subjects, the total IgG level correlated directly with cross-clade neutralizing activity in plasma. The findings demonstrate that even in chronically infected subjects in which B lymphocytes display multiple indications of dysfunction, antibodies that mediate cross-clade neutralization breadth continue to circulate in plasma.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • HIV Antibodies / blood
  • HIV Antibodies / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / blood
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / immunology
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / metabolism
  • Receptors, Immunologic / immunology
  • Receptors, Immunologic / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Viral Load / immunology
  • Viremia / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • BTLA protein, human
  • HIV Antibodies
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • PDCD1 protein, human
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Receptors, Immunologic