Browsing by Author "Salido, Jimena"
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Item Biomarkers of Progression after HIV Acute/Early Infection: Nothing Compares to CD4+ T-cell Count?(2018-01-13) Turk, Gabriela; Ghiglione, Yanina; Hormanstorfer, Macarena; Laufer, Natalia; Coloccini, Romina; Salido, Jimena; Trifone, César; Ruiz, Maria; Falivene, Juliana; Holgado, María Pía; Caruso, María Paula; Figueroa, María Inés; Salomon, Horacio ; Giavedoni, Luis D; De los Ángeles Pando, María; Gherardi, María Magdalena; Rabinovich, Roberto Daniel; Pury, Pedro A; Sued, OmarProgression of HIV infection is variable among individuals, and definition disease progression biomarkers is still needed. Here, we aimed to categorize the predictive potential of several variables using feature selection methods and decision trees. A total of seventy-five treatment-naïve subjects were enrolled during acute/early HIV infection. CD4+ T-cell counts (CD4TC) and viral load (VL) levels were determined at enrollment and for one year. Immune activation, HIV-specific immune response, Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) and C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) genotypes, and plasma levels of 39 cytokines were determined. Data were analyzed by machine learning and non-parametric methods. Variable hierarchization was performed by Weka correlation-based feature selection and J48 decision tree. Plasma interleukin (IL)-10, interferon gamma-induced protein (IP)-10, soluble IL-2 receptor alpha (sIL-2Rα) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels correlated directly with baseline VL, whereas IL-2, TNF-α, fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1β correlated directly with CD4+ T-cell activation (p < 0.05). However, none of these cytokines had good predictive values to distinguish “progressors” from “non-progressors”. Similarly, immune activation, HIV-specific immune responses and HLA/CCR5 genotypes had low discrimination power. Baseline CD4TC was the most potent discerning variable with a cut-off of 438 cells/μL (accuracy = 0.93, κ-Cohen = 0.85). Limited discerning power of the other factors might be related to frequency, variability and/or sampling time. Future studies based on decision trees to identify biomarkers of post-treatment control are warrantied.Item Evaluation of Different Parameters of Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses in HIV Serodiscordant Heterosexual Couples: Humoral Response Potentially Implicated in Modulating Transmission Rates(2017-11-03) Ruiz, Maria; Salido, Jimena; Abusamra, Lorena; Ghiglione, Yanina; Cevallos, Cintia; Damilano, Gabriel; Rodriguez, Ana María; Trifone, César; Laufer, Natalia; Giavedoni, Luis D; Sued, Omar; Salomon, Horacio ; Gherardi, María Magdalena; Turk, GabrielaAs the HIV/AIDS pandemic still progresses, understanding the mechanisms governing viral transmission as well as protection from HIV acquisition is fundamental. In this context, cohorts of HIV serodiscordant heterosexual couples (SDC) represent a unique tool. The present study was aimed to evaluate specific parameters of innate, cellular and humoral immune responses in SDC. Specifically, plasma levels of cytokines and chemokines, HIV-specific T-cell responses, gp120-specific IgG and IgA antibodies, and HIV-specific antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity were assessed in nine HIV-exposed seronegative individuals (ESN) and their corresponding HIV seropositive partners (HIV+-P), in eighteen chronically infected HIV subjects (C), nine chronically infected subjects known to be HIV transmitters (CT) and ten healthy HIV− donors (HD). Very low magnitude HIV-specific cellular responses were found in two out of six ESN. Interestingly, HIV+-P had the highest ADCC magnitude, the lowest IgA levels and the highest IgG/IgA ratio, all compared to CT. Positive correlations between CD4+ T-cell counts and both IgG/IgA ratios and %ADCC killing uniquely distinguished HIV+-P. Additionally, evidence of IgA interference with ADCC responses from HIV+-P and CT is provided. These data suggest for the first time a potential role of ADCC and/or gp120-specific IgG/IgA balance in modulating heterosexual transmission. In sum, this study provides key information to understand the host factors that influence viral transmission, which should be considered in both the development of prophylactic vaccines and novel immunotherapies for HIV-1 infection.Item Fostemsavir: a new CD4 attachment inhibitor(2018-10-23) Salido, Jimena; Ruiz, Maria; Trifone, César; Figueroa, María Inés; Caruso, María Paula; Gherardi, María Magdalena; Sued, Omar; Salomon, Horacio; Laufer, Natalia; Ghiglione, Yanina; Turk, GabrielaSince anti-HIV treatment cannot cure the infection, many strategies have been proposed to eradicate the viral reservoir, which still remains as a major challenge. The success of some of these strategies will rely on the ability of HIV-specific CD8+ T-cells (CD8TC) to clear reactivated infected cells. Here, we aimed to investigate the phenotype and function of in vitro expanded CD8TC obtained from HIV+ subjects on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), either initiated earlier (median = 3 months postinfection, ET: Early treatment) or later (median = 20 months postinfection, DT: Delayed treatment) after infection. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 12 DT and 13 ET subjects were obtained and stimulated with Nef and Gag peptide pools plus IL-2 for 14 days. ELISPOT was performed pre- and post-expansion. CD8TC memory/effector phenotype, PD-1 expression, polyfunctionality (CD107a/b, IFN-γ, IL-2, CCL4 (MIP-1β), and/or TNF-α production) and antiviral activity were evaluated post-expansion. Magnitude of ELISPOT responses increased after expansion by 103 times, in both groups. Expanded cells were highly polyfunctional, regardless of time of cART initiation. The memory/effector phenotype distribution was sharply skewed toward an effector phenotype after expansion in both groups although ET subjects showed significantly higher proportions of stem-cell and central memory CD8TCs. PD-1 expression was clustered in HIV-specific effector memory CD8TCs, subset that also showed the highest proportion of cytokine–producing cells. Moreover, PD-1 expression directly correlated with CD8TC functionality. Expanded CD8TCs from DT and ET subjects were highly capable of mediating antiviral activity, measured by two different assays. Antiviral function directly correlated with the proportion of fully differentiated effector cells (viral inhibition assay) as well as with CD8TC polyfunctionality and PD-1 expression (VITAL assay). In sum, we show that, despite being dampened in subjects on cART, the HIV-specific CD8TC response could be selectively stimulated and expanded in vitro, presenting a high proportion of cells able to carry-out multiple effector functions. Timing of cART initiation had an impact on the memory/effector differentiation phenotype, most likely reflecting how different periods of antigen persistence affected immune function. Overall, these results have important implications for the design and evaluation of strategies aimed at modulating CD8TCs to achieve the HIV functional cure.Item Induction of HIF-1alpha by HIV-1 Infection in CD4 T Cells Promotes Viral Replication and Drives Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Inflammation(ASM Journals, 2018) Duette, Gabriel; Pereyra Gerber, Pehuén; Rubione, Julia; Perez, Paula S.; Landay, Alan L.; Crowe, Suzanne M.; Liao, Zhaohao; Witwer, Kenneth W.; Holgado, María Pía; Salido, Jimena; Geffner, Jorge; Sued, Omar; Palmer, Clovis S.; Ostrowski, MatiasChronic immune activation and inflammation are hallmarks of HIV-1 infection and a major cause of serious non-AIDS events in HIV-1-infected individuals on antiretroviral treatment (ART). Herein, we show that cytosolic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) generated in infected CD4 T cells during the HIV-1 replication cycle promotes the mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent stabilization of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), which in turn, enhances viral replication. Furthermore, we show that induction of HIF-1 promotes the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs). These EVs foster inflammation by inducing the secretion of gamma interferon by bystander CD4 T cells and secretion of inter-leukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-1 by bystander macrophages through an HIF-1-dependent pathway. Remarkably, EVs obtained from plasma samples from HIV-1-infected individuals also induced HIF-1 activity and inflammation. Overall, this study demonstrates that HIF-1 plays a crucial role in HIV-1 pathogenesis by promoting viral replication and the release of EVs that orchestrate lymphocyte-and macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses. IMPORTANCE Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is a very important global pathogen that preferentially targets CD4 T cells and causes acquired im-munodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) if left untreated. Although antiretroviral treatment efficiently suppresses viremia, markers of immune activation and inflammation remain higher in HIV-1-infected patients than in uninfected individuals. The hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor that plays a fundamental role in coordinating cellular metabolism and function. Here we show that HIV-1 infection induces HIF-1 activity and that this transcription factor upholds HIV-1 rep-lication. Moreover, we demonstrate that HIF-1 plays a key role in HIV-1-associated inflammation by promoting the release of extracellular vesicles which, in turn, trigger the secretion of inflammatory mediators by noninfected bystander lymphocytes and macrophages. In summary, we identify that the coordinated actions of HIF-1 and extracellular vesicles promote viral replication and inflammation, thus contributing to HIV-1 pathogenesis.Item Modification of the HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell response in an HIV elite controller after chikungunya virus infection(2016-07-31) Ghiglione, Yanina; Ruiz, Maria; Salido, Jimena; Trifone, César; Sued, Omar; Martin, Yamila; Patterson, Patricia; Laufer, Natalia; Turk, GabrielaObjective: To evaluate the impact of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection on the quality of the HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell (CTL) response in an HIV elite controller. Design: Three blood samples were obtained from an elite controller at 27 days (EC-CHIKV, Sample 1, S1), 41 days (S2) and 1 year (S3) after CHIKV infection. Additionally, samples from another nine elite controllers and nine viremic chronics were obtained. Methods: CD4+ T-cell counts, viral load and immune activation were recorded. Natural killer (NK) cells and HIV-specific CTL quality were evaluated. Data were analyzed using nonparametric statistics. Results: A male HIV elite controller was confirmed for CHIKV infection. At S1, he presented 211 cells/μl CD4+ T-cell count, a HIV viral load blip (145 copies/ml) and high T-cell activation. NK cell percentage and activation were higher at S2. All parameters were recovered by S3. CTLs at S1 were exclusively monofunctional with a high proportion (>80%) of degranulating CTLs. By S3, CTL polyfunctionality was more similar to that of a typical elite controller. The distribution of CTL memory subsets also displayed altered profiles. Conclusion: The results showed that the phenotype and function of HIV-specific CTLs were modified in temporal association with an HIV viral load blip that followed CHIKV infection. This might have helped to control the transient HIV rebound. Additionally, NK cells could have been involved in this control. These results provide useful information to help understand how elite controllers maintain their status, control HIV infection and alert about the negative impact to the immune function of HIV-infected individuals living in CHIKV endemic areas.Item PD-1 Expression in HIV-Specific CD8+ T cells Before Antiretroviral Therapy Is Associated With HIV Persistence(2019-01) Ghiglione, Yanina; Trifone, César; Salido, Jimena; Rhodes, Ajantha; Ruiz, Maria; Polo, María Laura; Salomon, Horacio ; Laufer, Natalia; Sued, Omar; Lewin, Sharon; Turk, GabrielaBackground: The persistence of latently infected T cells remains the principal barrier to HIV cure. Understanding how the early immune responses shape persistence of HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) will be fundamental for potential eradication. Here, we aimed to determine the relationship between CD8+ T-cell function and phenotype before therapy and HIV persistence on ART. Methods: Blood samples from 29 individuals enrolled during primary HIV infection (at baseline and every 3 months up to 2 years post-ART initiation) were obtained. HIV-specific T-cell function and expression of the activation markers were evaluated before ART by flow cytometry. Cell-associated HIV DNA and unspliced (US)-RNA were quantified in purified CD4+ T cells by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Data were analyzed using nonparametric statistics. Results: Elevated immune activation, dominance of monofunctional CD8+ T cells, and skewed distribution of memory profile were observed before ART. After ART initiation, HIV DNA and US-RNA levels rapidly diminished, reaching a plateau by 30 weeks after ART. The proportion of baseline HIV-specific effector memory and terminal effector CD8+ T cells directly correlated with HIV DNA levels at 1 year after ART. A strong positive correlation was observed between the proportion of bulk and HIV-specific PD-1High CD8+ T cells measured before ART and HIV DNA at 1 year after ART. Conclusions: A higher proportion of terminally differentiated CD8+ T cells and increased PD1 expression were associated with HIV persistence on ART after treatment of primary infection. Thus, the quality of the early CD8+ T-cell immune response may serve as a predictor of HIV persistence on ART.Item Pre-cART Immune Parameters in People Living With HIV Might Help Predict CD8+ T-Cell Characteristics, Inflammation Levels, and Reservoir Composition After Effective cART(2021-10-01) Salido, Jimena; Czernikier, Alejandro; Trifone, César; Polo, María Laura; Figueroa, María Inés; Urioste, Alejandra; Cahn, Pablo; Sued, Omar; Solomon, Horacio; Laufer, Natalia; Ghiglione, Yanina; Turk, GabrielaBackground: Combined antiretroviral treatment (cART) for HIV infection is highly effective in controlling viral replication. However, it cannot achieve a sterilizing cure. Several strategies have been proposed to achieve a functional cure, some of them based on immune-mediated clearing of persistently infected cells. Here, we aimed at identifying factors related to CD8TC and CD4TC quality before cART initiation that associate with the persistence of CD8TC antiviral response after cART, inflammation levels, and the size of the viral reservoir. Methods: Samples from 25 persons living with HIV were obtained before and after (15 months) cART initiation. Phenotype and functionality of bulk and HIV-specific T cells were assayed by flow cytometry ex vivo or after expansion in pre-cART or post-cART samples, respectively. Cell-Associated (CA) HIV DNA (total and integrated) and RNA (unspliced [US] and multiple spliced [MS]) were quantitated by real-time PCR on post-cART samples. Post-cART plasma levels of CXCL10 (IP-10), soluble CD14 (sCD14) and soluble CD163 (sCD163) were measured by ELISA. Results: Pre-cART phenotype of CD8TCs and magnitude and phenotype of HIV-specific response correlated with the phenotype and functionality of CD8TCs post-cART. Moreover, the phenotype of the CD8TCs pre-cART correlated with markers of HIV persistence and inflammation post-cART. Finally, exhaustion and differentiation of CD4TCs pre-cART were associated with the composition of the HIV reservoir post-cART and the level of inflammation. Conclusions: Overall, this work provides data to help understand and identify parameters that could be used as markers in the development of immune-based functional HIV cure strategies.