HIV-infected women have high numbers of CD103-CD8+ T cells residing close to the basal membrane of the ectocervical epithelium.
Date
2017Author
Gibbs, A
Buggert, M
Edfeldt, G
Ranefall, P.
Introini, A
Cheuk, S
Martini, E
Eidsmo, L
Ball, TB
Kimani, J
Kaul, R
Karlsson, A
Wählby, C
Broliden, K
Tjernlund, A
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
BACKGROUND:
Genital mucosa is the main portal of entry for various incoming pathogens, including HIV, hence an important site for host immune defenses. Tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells defend tissue barriers against infections and are characterized by expression of CD103 and CD69. Here we describe the composition of CD8+ TRM cells in the ectocervix of healthy and HIV-infected women.
METHODS:
Study samples were collected from healthy Swedish and Kenyan HIV-infected and uninfected women. Customized computerized image-based in situ analysis was developed to assess the ectocervical biopsies. Genital mucosa and blood samples were assessed by flow cytometry.
RESULTS:
While ectocervical epithelium of healthy women was populated with bona fide CD8+ TRM cells (CD103+CD69+), HIV-infected women displayed high frequency of CD103-CD8+ cells residing close to their epithelial basal membrane. Accumulation of CD103-CD8+ cells was associated with chemokine expression in the ectocervix and HIV viral load. CD103+CD8+ and CD103-CD8+ T cells expressed cytotoxic effector molecules in the ectocervical epithelium of healthy and HIV-infected women. Additionally, HIV-infected women had decreased frequencies of circulating CD103+CD8+ T cells.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our data provide insight into the distribution of CD8+ TRM cells in human genital mucosa, a critically important location for immune defense against pathogens, including HIV.
Citation
10.1093/infdis/jix661.Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10377]
The following license files are associated with this item: