The pleural tuberculosis–associated microenvironment promotes HIV-1 persistence by impairing CD8+ T cell–mediated viral control
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), is the most common coinfection in people living with HIV-1. This coinfection is associated with accelerated HIV-1 disease progression and reduced survival. However, the immunological and virological mechanisms driving this progression are not completely understood. To address this knowledge gap, using pleural effusion samples from people living with HIV-1 and TB, we investigated how the HIV-1 genetic landscape and the anti-HIV-1 immune response are impacted by a TB-associated microenvironment. Our results revealed an enrichment of genetically intact HIV-1 and impaired CD8+ T cell-mediated antiviral response at this site of HIV-1/Mtb coinfection. Moreover, efficient CD8+ T cell activation was inhibited by lipids present in the TB-associated pleural effusion. These findings indicate that this immune microenvironment induced by TB promotes the persistence of cells infected with replication-competent HIV-1 by creating a niche of reduced antiviral immune pressure, potentially contributing to the worsened clinical outcomes observed in people living with HIV-1 and TB.
Source: JCI Insight
Authors: Samantha Cronin, Jennifer Simpson, Andrea Pereyra-Casanova, Yuchen Li, Josefina Marín-Rojas, Freja A. Warner van Dijk, Katie Fisher, Daniel J. Buffa, Hafsa Rana, Zoï Vahlas, Joaquina Barros, Mariano Maio, Thomas R. O’Neil, Kirstie M. Bertram, Eunok Lee, Najla Nasr, Andrew N. Harman, Gabriela Turk, Maria Florencia Quiroga, Anthony D. Kelleher, Christel Vérollet, Luciana Balboa, Sarah Palmer, Gabriel Duette
Institutions: The University of Sydney, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida, UNSW Sydney, Kirby Institute
Language: English
Topic: HIV Research and Treatment
Subfield: Virology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,100
Funders: amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, Styrelsen för Internationellt Utvecklingssamarbete, Delaney AIDS Research Enterprise, Sidaction, David and Elaine Potter Foundation, Australian Government, Cancer Institute NSW, University of Sydney, Université de Toulouse, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, National Institutes of Health, Medical Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, Sydney Medical School, Sydney Medical School Foundation
Awards: G1153707119, G1299706809
OpenAlex ID: W7203840256
FWCI:
Cites:
Cited by:
Related to: