Double-negative T cells during HIV/SIV infections

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Vasudha Sundaravaradan, Seattle Biomedical Research Institute; Kiran D. Mir-Hudgeons, Emory University; Donald L. Sodora, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2012-03
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/COH.0b013e3283504a66
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS
• ISSN: 1746-630X
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 2
• Start Page: 164
• End Page: 171
• Grant/Funding Information: Studies described were supported by NIH/NIAID grants R56AI087468 awarded to DLS and F32AI084556 awarded to VS.
• Keywords: SIV/HIV infection; T regulatory cells; Helper T cells; Natural hosts; Double-negative T cells
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Immunology; Engineering, Biomedical

Abstract

Purpose of the review This review summarizes the role of CD3+CD4−CD8− double-negative T cells, which have both regulatory and helper T cell function and may have the potential to compensate for the reduced levels of CD4+ T cells during SIV/HIV infection. Recent findings Double-negative (DN) T cells have been characterized in several human diseases and in murine models of autoimmunity and transplantation, where they exhibit both immunoregulatory and helper T cell-like function. During the natural nonpathogenic SIV infection of African nonhuman primates, the lack of clinical disease progression is associated with the presence of DN T cells that maintain helper T cell functions while remaining refractory to viral infection. Moreover, DN T cells may compensate for very low levels of CD4+ T cells observed in a cohort of sooty mangabeys that have been infected with SIV for over 10 years and have remained free of clinical disease manifestations associated with AIDS. These studies identify a potential for DN T cells to provide critical helper function during HIV infection. Summary DN T cells with some CD4+ T cell functions are associated with a nonpathogenic outcome during SIV infection and represent a potential immune therapeutic target in HIV-infected patients.