Michael M. Lederman
MXL6@case.edu
10.20411/pai.v2i2.210
The Cleveland Immunopathogenesis Consortium was launched in March 2004 by a small group of investigators (Ron Bosch, Jason Brenchley, Steven Deeks, Danny Douek, Zvi Grossman, Robert Kalayjian, Clifford Harding, Michael Lederman, Leonid Margolis, Miguel Quinones, Benigno Rodriguez, Rafick Sekaly, Scott Sieg and Guido Silvestri) who were increasingly persuaded that immune activation was an important driver of HIV pathogenesis. We met around a chalk board and scribbled our models of pathogenesis, designed some experiments then went back home to do them. We met again soon to review our new and unpublished findings that refined and shaped these models. The data presentations were short, informal and heavy on discussion. The model worked well, the consortium was productive and the meetings catalyzed numerous collaborations and scores of high impact papers. The CLIC consortium (less formally, the Bad Boys of Cleveland [1]) has been meeting regularly since then. Consortium membership has expanded to include other investigators (some are listed in the presentations below). Whether the goal is to prevent the morbid complications of HIV infection, to understand the determinants of HIV persistence or the factors that protect from acquisition of infection, a more clear understanding of HIV immunopathogenesis is central. Here in this issue of Pathogens and Immunity is a brief summary of the most recent CLIC//BBC meeting held in Cleveland in March 2017.
Lenche Kostadinova*, Carey L Shive*, Elizabeth Zebrowski, Chelsey J Judge, Kelsey Rife, Amy Hirsch, Anita Compan, Yngve Falck-Ytter, Daniel L Popkin, Donald D Anthony (presenting author)
*contributed equally
Cleveland VA Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University
Plasma markers of immune activation during chronic HCV infection, including sCD14, sCD163, Mac2BP, IL-6, IP-10, and Autotaxin were measured before and over the course of Interferon free therapy for HCV, and results were compared to HCV level, serum markers of liver inflammation and function, and liver stiffness as measured by transient elastography. Results indicate select relationships between parameters before and those that change during HCV therapy, as well as those that reflect upon the HCV reservoir prior to therapy.
Reem Dawoud, Christine Grech, Amit Upadhyay, Amber Wolabaugh Nirav Patel, Greg Tharp, Simon Barratt-Boyes, Steven Bosinger
Steven Bosinger
Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
In this study we purified plasmacytoid dendritic cells from SIV-infected rhesus macaques and sooty mangabeys, which remain resistant to AIDS. We used RNA-Seq to characterize the transcriptome of pDCs from blood and lymph nodes of both species. In concordance with prior observations, we observed that pDCs in SIV-infected Sooty Mangabeys had low to absent expression of Interferon Stimulated Genes, whereas ISGs were highly expressed in rhesus macaques. We found no detectable expression of IFNA, IFNB, or IFNW transcripts in pDCs purified from the blood of either species, however, we detected high levels of IFNA,B and W in pDCs purified from the Lymph Nodes of SIV-infected macaques. In contrast, IFNA/B/W could not be detected in CD4+ T cells of SIV-infected macaques. These data indicate that the major driver of IFN responses in chronic HIV infection are lymph node resident pDCs.
Alex Ortiz, Carly Starke, Jacob Flynn, Carol Vinton, JC Mudd, Jason Brenchley
Jason Brenchley
Barrier Immunity Section, LPD, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
While GI tract microbial dysbiosis is observed in HIV-infected individuals, such dysbosis does not occur after experimental SIV infection of Asian macaques. Recent studies suggest that the dysbiosis observed in HIV-infection is, largely, attributed to lifestyle and not HIV infection itself. To assess if microbial dysbiosis accelerates SIV disease we experimentally induced bacterial GI tract dysbiosis in Asian macaques before and throughout SIV infection. The dysbiosis which we induced had no apparent effect on any virological or immunological attribute of SIV disease and the animals progressed to AIDS at rates similar to controls. Thus bacterial dysbiosis likely has little contribution to untreated HIV disease progression. Potential roles for dybiosis in immunopathogenesis of ARV-treated, HIV-infected individuals or in influencing susceptibility to infection are unclear.
Claire Deleage, Baris Turkbey, Marcelino L. Bernardo, Gregory Del Prete, Brandon Keele, Jeffrey Lifson, Jacob D. Estes
Jacob D. Estes
AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Frederick National Laboratory, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick, Maryland
Initiation of effective immune responses depends on the function of organized secondary lymphoid tissues, in particular lymph nodes. One of the important biological functions of lymph nodes is the filtration of the lymph and the capture of particulate antigens. Since HIV/SIV infection drives a significant and progressive lymphoid tissue fibrotic damage we sought to evaluate the ability of lymph nodes to capture particulate antigens over time during SIV infection using a novel imaging magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach. We found a rapid and progressive dysfunction of lymph nodes, with impaired uptake of particulate antigen into lymph nodes observed by MRI during SIV infection that was not restored after the 46 weeks of cART and 28 weeks of the anti-fibrotic pirfenidone. Lymph node impairment may limit the infected host’s ability to mount effective immune responses and may limit drug penetration into the very tissue sites where the virus persists.
Stephen R. Morris, Soumya Panigrahi, Scott F. Sieg, Nicholas T. Funderburg, Souheil-Antoine Younes, Michael M. Lederman, and Michael L. Freeman
Michael L. Freeman
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
We investigated the role of non-canonical CD2-mediated stimulation in vitro on CX3CR1+ CD8 T cells from HIV-infected individuals. CD2-mediated stimulation resulted in elevated effector functions similar to levels induced by canonical TCR signaling. As a co-stimulator of TCR activation, CD2-mediated signals resulted in more robust responses than CD28-mediated co-stimulation.
Martha Belury, Emily Bowman, Janelle Gabriel, Brandon Snyder, Manjusha Kulkarni, Marilly Palettas, Xiaokui Mo, Jordan E. Lake, Brian Clagett, Martin P. Playford, Adriana Andrade, Daniel R. Kuritzkes, Nehal N. Mehta, Michael M. Lederman, Nicholas T. Funderburg
Nicholas T. Funderburg
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
The composition of the lipidome is altered in HIV-infection and changes with ART. Alterations in Saturated Fatty Acids were generally associated with inflammatory markers and may contribute to immune activation and comorbid disease pathogenesis.
Sara Gianella, Antoine Chaillon, Ece A. Mutlu, Phillip A. Engen, Robin M. Voigt, Ali Keshavarzian, John Losurdo, Prachi Chakradeo, Steven M. Lada, Masato Nakazawa, Alan L. Landay
Sara Gianella
University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
HIV-infection is associated with dramatic changes in the intestinal mucosa but the impact of other viral pathogens is unclear. Here we investigated the effect of intestinal CMV and EBV replication on the gut microbiome and mucosal cytokine expression of HIV-infected and -uninfected individuals. CMV and EBV replication did not have a strong effect on the microbiome composition. Presence of CMV DNA (but not EBV) was associated with up-regulated expression of selected cytokines in the gut of HIV-uninfected individuals. These results highlight a possible modulatory effect of CMV on the gut immune homeostasis.
Zvi Grossman
NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
Under effective ART, HIV DNA-containing CD4 T cells would be progressively washed out along with their uninfected counterparts if an influx of new memory cells can generated, in a controlled manner, by activation of naïve cells, while existing memory cells that are simultaneously activated preferentially differentiate and die. This strategy may be tuned for maximum efficiency and minimal side effects and lead to a functional cure. In a proof-of-principle study, the feasibility of inducing substantial washout of existing CD4+ memory is being tested in the mouse model.
Nichole Klatt, Ryan Cheu, Alex Zevin, Adam Burgener
Nichole Klatt
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Microbiota can affect HIV transmission by many mechanisms, including by altering inflammation, barrier function, and most recently, we have shown that microbiota can directly metabolize antiretroviral drugs. Here we presented data on how dysbiotic vaginal bacteria can affect the pharmacologically active form of tenofovir.
Jeffrey Lifson
AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick, Maryland; Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland
Certain combinations of the timing of cART initiation and its duration appear to be capable of facilitating off-cART host control of viral replication in nonhuman primate models. The potential mechanisms underlying this enhanced control, and its potential clinical relevance were discussed.
Anush Arakelyan, Wendy Fitzgerald, Sonia Zicari, Christophe Vanpouille, Leonid Margolis
Leonid Margolis
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
Extracellular vesicles are produced by virus-infected cells and are part of viral preparations. HIV-1 infected cells release extracellular vesicles that carry Env (gp120) and facilitate HIV-1 infection
Glen M. Chew, Ivo Sah Bandar, Michael Corley, Steven Deeks, Jonah Sacha, Cecilia M. Shikuma, Lishomwa C. Ndhlovu
Lishomwa C. Ndhlovu
John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii
Strategies to eliminate the HIV viral reservoir to date have not succeeded. The TIGIT immune regulatory pathway when blocked may restore anti-HIV immune function. Here we discuss combinatorial adjunctive immunomodulatory approaches targeting the TIGIT pathway capable of depleting latently HIV infected T cells in blood and tissue sanctuaries.
Krystelle Nganou-Makamdop, Aarthi Talla, Sam Darko, Jeffrey Chipman, Greg Beilman, Torfi Hoskuldsson, Thomas Schmidt, Cissy Kityo, Rafick Sekaly, Timothy Schacker, Daniel Douek
Krystelle Nganou- Makamdop
Vaccine Research Center NIAID NIH, Human Immunology Section, Bethesda, Maryland
Longitudinal evaluation of plasma markers, transcriptome of sorted PBMC and circulating microbiome after initiation of ART in HIV infected Uganda was presented.
Ivona Pandrea, Rusell Tracy, Cristian Apetrei, Irini Sereti
Ivona Pandrea
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
We presented data that support a bidirectional relationship between coagulation and immune activation/inflammation. We also confirmed that (Tissue Factor) TF is situated at the crossroads of the coagulation and inflammation vicious circle and showed results that suggest that TF may be an attractive therapeutic target to prevent chronic inflammation and disease progression.
Netanya S Utay, Doug Kitch, Carl Fichtenbaum, Michael M Lederman, Jacob D Estes, Clara Magyar, Karen L Klingman, Judy S Currier and Jordan E Lake for the A5317 team
Netanya Utay
University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
In HIV-1-infected adults on suppressive ART, angiotensin receptor blockade and PPAR-γ agonism with telmisartan for 48 weeks did not improve lymph node or adipose tissue fibrosis more than continued ART alone. Notably, continued ART decreased both lymph node and adipose tissue fibrosis over 48 weeks.
Souheil-Antoine Younes, Aarthi Talla, Susan Pereira Ribeiro, Evgeniya V. Saidakova, Larisa B. Korolevskaya, Konstantin V. Shmagel, Carey L. Shive, Robert Balderas, Leonid Margolis, Daniel C. Douek, Donald. D. Anthony, Pushpa Pandiyan, Scott F. Sieg, Michael M. Lederman, and Rafick-Pierre Sekaly
Souheil-Antoine Younes
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
In this study, we show that perturbations in the homeostasis of CD4 T cells in HIV infected patients who fail to restore CD4 T cells on ART is associated with poor maintenance of regulatory T cells that is linked to impaired mitochondrial function.
1. Check E. Bad Boys question received wisdom on HIV. Nature. 2006;443(7110):380-1. PubMed PMID: 17006482. doi: 10.1038/443380b