CD8+ T cells that express CD4 on their surface (CD4 dimCD8bright T cells) recognize an antigen-specific target, are detected in vivo, and can be productively infected by T-tropic HIV

Andrew Zloza, Yvonne B. Sullivan, Elizabeth Connick, Alan L. Landay, Lena Al-Harthi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

CD4 can be up-regulated on CD8+ T cells generating a CD4 dimCD8bright phenotype. We previously demonstrated that the CD4dimCD8bright phenotype constitutes an activated phenotype of CD8+ T cells. We demonstrate here that the activated CD4dimCD8bright T cells are not undergoing apoptosis and do not produce significant intracellular levels of interferon γ (IFNγ), interleukin 2 (IL-2), or IL-10 but express elevated levels of intracellular IL-4 in comparison to CD8+CD4- and CD4 + T cells. In response to cytomegalovirus (CMV) peptide (pp65) priming, CD4dimCD8bright cells recognized CMV pp65 tetramer approximately 19-fold higher than CD4-CD8+ T cells, indicating that these cells are capable of antigen-specific recognition to a far greater extent than CD4-CD8+ T cells. CD4 dimCD8bright T cells also express both CXCR4 and CCR5 but are susceptible to T-tropic and not M-tropic HIV infection. A soluble factor believed to be β-chemokine is responsible for the inhibition of M-tropic HIV infection in CD4dimCD8bright T cells. CD8+ T cells from HIV+ patients were capable of up-regulating CD4 on CD8+ T cells. We also provide evidence of the presence of peripheral blood CD4dimCD8bright T cells in HIV+ patients, albeit at low frequency. Collectively, these data suggest a role of CD4 dimCD8bright T cells in both normal T-cell biology and HIV pathogenesis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2156-2164
Number of pages9
JournalBlood
Volume102
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 15 2003
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Immunology
  • Hematology
  • Cell Biology

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