Case-Control Study of the Immune Status of Humans Infected With Zoonotic Gorilla Simian Foamy Viruses

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 221; no. 10; pp. 1724 - 1733
• Main Authors: Gessain, Antoine, Montange, Thomas, Betsem, Edouard, Bilounga Ndongo, Chanceline, Njouom, Richard, Buseyne, Florence
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 27.04.2020
• Subjects: Adaptive immunology; Adult; Aged; Animals; Apoptosis; Biomarkers; Case-Control Studies; CD163 antigen; CD4 antigen; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - physiology; CD8 antigen; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - physiology; Cell activation; Chronic infection; Emerging diseases; Flow cytometry; Gene Expression Regulation - immunology; Human health and pathology; Humans; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors - metabolism; Immune status; Immunology; Infectious diseases; Life Sciences; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Male; Memory cells; Microbiology and Parasitology; Middle Aged; Monocytes; PD-1 protein; Phenotypes; Plasma levels; Primates; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor - genetics; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor - metabolism; Retroviridae Infections - immunology; Scavenger receptors; Simian foamy virus; Thymus; Virology; Zoonoses; foamy virus; zoonosis; immune activation; checkpoint inhibitor; check-point inhibitor; retrovirus; emergence; monocyte; T lymphocyte
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz660

Abstract Background Zoonotic simian foamy viruses (SFVs) establish persistent infections in humans, for whom the long-term consequences for health are poorly described. In this study, we aimed to characterize blood-cell phenotypes and plasma biomarkers associated with gorilla SFV infection in humans. Methods We used a case-control design to compare 15 Cameroonian hunters infected with gorilla SFV (cases) to 15 controls matched for age and ethnicity. A flow cytometry-based phenotypic study and quantification of plasma immune biomarkers were carried out on blood samples from all participants. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare cases and controls. Results Cases had a significantly higher percentage of CD8 T lymphocytes than controls (median, 17.6% vs 13.7%; P = .03) but similar levels of B, natural killer, and CD4 T lymphocytes. Cases also had a lower proportion of recent CD4 thymic emigrants (10.9% vs 18.6%, P = .05), a higher proportion of programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) expressing memory CD4 T lymphocytes (31.7% vs 24.7%, P = .01), and higher plasma levels of the soluble CD163 scavenger receptor (0.84 vs .59 µg/mL, P = .003) than controls. Conclusions We show, for the first time, that chronic infection with SFV is associated with T lymphocyte differentiation and monocyte activation. Zoonotic simian foamy viruses (SFVs) establish persistent infections in humans, for whom the long-term consequences for health are poorly described. We show, for the first time, that chronic infection with SFV is associated with T lymphocyte differentiation and monocyte activation.