Memory CD4+ T cells that co-express PD1 and CTLA4 have reduced response to activating stimuli facilitating HIV latency

Abstract

Programmed cell death 1 (PD1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4) suppress CD4⁺ T cell activation and may promote latent HIV infection. By performing leukapheresis (n = 21) and lymph node biopsies (n = 8) in people with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and sorting memory CD4⁺ T cells into subsets based on PD1/CTLA4 expression, we investigate the role of PD1 and CTLA 4 in HIV persistence. We show that double-positive (PD1⁺CTLA4⁺) cells in blood contain more HIV DNA compared with double-negative (PD1^-CTLA4^-) cells but still have a lower proportion of cells producing multiply spliced HIV RNA after stimulation as well as reduced upregulation of T cell activation and proliferation markers. Transcriptomics analyses identify differential expression of key genes regulating T cell activation and proliferation with MAF, KLRB1, and TIGIT being upregulated in double-positive compared with double-negative cells, whereas FOS is downregulated. We conclude that, in addition to being enriched for HIV DNA, double-positive cells are characterized by negative signaling and a reduced capacity to respond to stimulation, favoring HIV latency.