Deciphering long-term immune effects of HIV-1/SARS-CoV-2 co-infection: a longitudinal study
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: While the general immune response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is well-understood, the long-term effects of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1/Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (HIV-1/SARS-CoV-2) co-infection on the immune system remain unclear. This study investigates the immune response in people with HIV-1 (PWH) co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 to understand its long-term health consequences. METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal study of PWH with suppressed viral load and SARS-CoV-2 infection was conducted. Cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma samples were collected at three time-points: HIV-1/pre-SARS-CoV-2 (n = 18), HIV-1/SARS-CoV-2 (n = 46), and HIV-1/post-SARS-CoV-2 (n = 36). Plasma levels of 25 soluble cytokines and chemokines, and anti-S/anti-N-IgG-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were measured. Immunophenotyping of innate and adaptive immune components and HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2-specific T/B-cell responses were assessed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: HIV-1/SARS-CoV-2 co-infection was associated with long-lasting immune dysfunction, characterized by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and a decrease in the MIG-IP10-ITAC chemokine axis at the HIV/SARS-CoV-2 time-point, which persisted one year later. Additionally, alterations in the distribution of subsets and increased activation (NKG2D/NKG2C) and maturation (TIM3) markers of NK and dendritic cells were observed at the HIV-1/SARS-CoV-2 time-point, persisting throughout the study. Effector memory CD4 T-cell subsets were decreased, while exhaustion/senescence (PD1/TIM3/CD57) markers were elevated at all three time-points. SARS-CoV-2-specific T/B-cell responses remained stable throughout the study, while HIV-1-specific T-cell responses decreased at the HIV-1/SARS-CoV-2 time-point and remained so. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent immune dysfunction in HIV-1/SARS-CoV-2 co-infection increases the risk of future complications, even in PWH with mild symptoms. Exacerbated inflammation and alterations in immune cells may contribute to reduce vaccine efficacy and potential reinfections.
Institutions: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Biomedical Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research, Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Catalunya Sud, Hospital Universitari Joan XXIII de Tarragona, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Language: English
Topic: HIV Research and Treatment
Subfield: Virology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,690
Awards: Dendrímeros como candidatos a microbicidas para prevenir infecciones por VIH y / o VHS-2 en mujeres y hombres., G1937528088, G2739779182, G4459337910, G4687697941, Generación de organoides vaginales a partir de células madre humanas pluripotentes (hPSCs): una plataforma para modelizar infecciones de transmisión sexual (ETSs). Terapias basadas en la nanotecnología.
OpenAlex ID: W4405814537