Death and Survival of Gut CD4 T Cells Following HIV-1 Infection Ex Vivo

Overview

Journal PNAS Nexus

Date 2025 Jan 9

PMID 39780917

Authors

Kaylee L Mickens

Stephanie M Dillon

Kejun Guo

Ashley N Thompson

Bradley S Barrett

Cheyret Wood

Katerina Kechris

Mario L Santiago

Cara C Wilson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract is ground zero for the massive and sustained CD4 T cell depletion during acute HIV-1 infection. To date, the molecular mechanisms governing this fundamental pathogenic process remain unclear. HIV-1 infection in the gastrointestinal tract is associated with chronic inflammation due to a disrupted epithelial barrier that results in microbial translocation. Here, we utilized the lamina propria aggregate culture model to demonstrate that the profound induction of granzyme B by bacteria in primary gut CD4 T cells ex vivo significantly contributes to HIV-1-mediated CD4 T cell death. Counterintuitively, a substantial fraction of gut granzyme B+ CD4 T cells harboring high levels of HIV-1 infection survive via a pathway linked to CD120b/TNFR2. Our findings underscore previously undescribed mechanisms governing the death and survival of gut CD4 T cells during HIV-1 infection that could inform strategies to counter HIV-1 pathogenesis and persistence in this critical tissue compartment.

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