Virus-Specific Interleukin-17-Producing CD4 super(+) T Cells Are Detectable in Early Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection

• Published in: Journal of virology Vol. 82; no. 13; pp. 6767 - 6771
• Main Authors: Yue, Feng Yun, Merchant, Asad, Kovacs, Colin M, Loutfy, Mona, Persad, Desmond, Ostrowski, Mario A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.07.2008
• Subjects: Cytomegalovirus; Human immunodeficiency virus 1
• ISSN: 0022-538X; 1098-5514

T sub(H)-17 cells have been shown to play a role in bacterial defense, acute inflammation, and autoimmunity. We examined the role of interleukin 17 (IL-17) production in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Both HIV-1- and cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific IL-17-producing CD4 super(+) T cells were detectable in early HIV-1 infection but were reduced to nondetectable levels in chronic and nonprogressive HIV-1 infection. IL-17-producing CMV-specific cells were not detected in blood from HIV-1-uninfected normal volunteers. Virus-specific T sub(H)-17 cells could coexpress other cytokines and could express CCR4 or CXCR3. Although the etiology of these cells has yet to be established, we propose that microbial translocation may induce them.