alpha 4 beta 7(high) CD4(+) T cells are prone to be infected by HIV-1 and associated with HIV-1 disease progression

Introduction: To investigate the characteristics of beta 7(high) CD4(+) T cells during HIV-1 infection and the relationship between beta 7(high) CD4(+) T cells and HIV-1 disease progress. Methods: This study enrolled 124 HIV-1-infected patients, including 80 treatment naive patients (TNs), 41 patients who underwent antiretroviral therapy (ARTs), and three long-term no progression patients (LTNPs). Nineteen matched healthy subjects were included as controls (HCs). The characteristics and frequency of beta 7(high) CD4(+) T cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. An in vitro culture experiment was used to study HIV-1 infection of beta 7(high) CD4(+) T cells. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to quantify HIV-1 DNA and CA-RNA levels. Results: The frequency of beta 7(high) CD4(+) T in the peripheral blood was significantly decreased and negatively correlated with disease progression during chronic HIV-1 infection. A large proportion of beta 7(high) CD4(+) T cells showed Th17 phenotype. Furthermore, beta 7(high) CD4(+) T cells were preferentially infected by HIV-1 in vitro and in vivo. There were no significant differences of HIV-1 DNA, and CA-RNA levels between beta 7(high) CD4(+) T and beta 7(low) CD4(+) T subsets in HIV-1 infected individuals after antiviral treatment. Conclusion: The beta 7(high) CD4(+) T cells were negatively correlated with disease progression during chronic HIV-1 infection. beta 7(high) CD4(+) T cells are susceptible to infection with HIV-1 and HIV-1 latent cells.