Evaluation of CD103 (αEβ7) integrin expression by CD8 T cells in blood as a surrogate marker to predict cervical T cell responses in the female genital tract during HIV infection

Clin Immunol. 2011 Nov;141(2):143-51. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2011.06.008. Epub 2011 Jul 2.

Abstract

Mucosal homing receptors expressed by blood T cells may be useful surrogates for measuring mucosal T cell immune responses at the site of HIV transmission. Here, we investigated whether HIV-specific responses by T cells expressing the mucosal integrin receptor CD103 in blood reliably predicted corresponding HIV-specific responses at the cervix. The frequency of CD8+ T cells expressing CD103 in blood correlated significantly with the number of CD103+CD8+ T cells from the cervix suggesting that CD103 was involved in trafficking of T cells from blood to the cervical mucosa. TGF-β concentrations in plasma were significantly associated with the frequency of CD103 expression by blood but not cervical CD8 T cells. The majority of Gag-responsive CD8 T cells were CD103+ in both blood and at the cervix. Despite this, the magnitude of Gag-specific IFN-γ responses by CD103+CD8+ T cells in blood did not predict similar Gag-specific responses at the cervix.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antigens, CD / biosynthesis
  • Antigens, CD / blood*
  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Biomarkers
  • Body Fluids / chemistry
  • Body Fluids / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cervix Uteri / immunology*
  • Chemotaxis, Leukocyte
  • Cytokines / analysis
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Products, gag / immunology
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Mucosal*
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Integrin alpha Chains / biosynthesis
  • Integrin alpha Chains / blood*
  • Integrin alpha Chains / genetics
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interferon-gamma / blood
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Organ Specificity
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / blood
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Biomarkers
  • Cytokines
  • Gene Products, gag
  • Integrin alpha Chains
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • alpha E integrins
  • Interferon-gamma