Characterization of γδT cells in na?ve and HIV-infected chimpanzees and their responses to T-cell activators in vitro

摘要

γδT cells are effector cells that eliminate cancer and virusinfected cells. Chimpanzees are an endangered species that can naturally and experimentally be infected with SIV and HIV, respectively, but no information about the functionality of γδT cells during chronic lentiviral infection is currently available. Methods Healthy and HIV-infected chimpanzee γδT cells were characterized by flow cytometry. γδT subsets were studied after stimulation with T-cell activators, and the release of cytokines was analyzed by Luminex assay. Results γδT-cell subsets, Vδ1 and Vd2Vc9, showed different patterns in the expression of CD4, CD195, CD159a, and CD159c. Stimulation of γδT cells resulted in increased levels of CD4 and HLA-DR, which is more pronounced in Vδ1 T cells. Distinct cytokine patterns were found between healthy and HIV-infected chimpanzees. Conclusions Analyses of major chimpanzee γδT subsets show similarities to human γδT cells and suggest different functionality and roles in their immune response against HIV infection.