Bacteroides are associated with GALT iNKT cell function and reduction of microbial translocation in HIV-1 infection

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Paquin-Proulx, D. ; Ching, C. ; Vujkovic-Cvijin, I. ; Fadrosh, D. ; Loh, L. ; Huang, Y. ; Somsouk, M. ; Lynch, S. V. ; Hunt, P. W. ; Nixon, D. F. ; SenGupta, D.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MUCOSAL IMMUNOLOGY; v. 10, n. 1, p. 69-78, JAN 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 16

Abstract

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are innate-like T cells that respond to lipid antigens presented by CD1d. These immunoregulatory cells have the capacity for rapid cytokine release after antigen recognition and are essential for the activation of multiple arms of the immune response. HIV-1 infection is associated with iNKT cell depletion in the peripheral blood; however, their role in the gastrointestinal-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) is less well studied. Our results show that iNKT cells are found at a higher frequency in GALT compared with blood, particularly in HIV-1 elite controllers. The capacity of iNKT cells to produce interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 in the GALT was associated with less immune activation and lower markers of microbial translocation, whereas regulatory Tcell frequency showed positive associations with immune activation. Wehypothesized that the composition of the microbiota would influence iNKT cell frequency and function. We found positive associations between the abundance of several Bacteroides species and iNKT cell frequency and their capacity to produce IL-4 in the GALT but not in the blood. Overall, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that GALT iNKT cells, influenced by certain bacterial species, may have a key role in regulating immune activation in HIV-1 infection. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/05845-0 - Cellular immune responses in infectious diseases and primary immunodeficiencies
• Grantee: Esper Georges Kallás
• Support type: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• FAPESP's process: 04/15856-9 - Prospective analysis of the virological and immunological characteristics in individuals with recent HIV-1 infection in the cities of São Paulo and Santos
• Grantee: Ricardo Sobhie Diaz
• Support type: Research Projects - Thematic Grants