Relative reduction of plasmacytoid dendritic cells with shift in TH₁ to TH₂ response in HIV-1 infected patients as compared to high risk and healthy north Indians

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen presenting cells and play a central role in both innate and adaptive immunity. A decrease in one or both subsets of DC has been reported in HIV-1 infected patients from different populations. The status of DC subsets in subjects at high risk for HIV-1 such as Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) has not been reported so far.

Blood samples from 15 healthy individuals, 15 IDU and 15 HIV-1 positive patients were collected and informed consent was obtained. Plasmacytoid and myeloid DCs were accessed by four-color flow cytometry. The plasma level cytokines and HIV-1 viral load were determined.

We observed a significant decrease in the total DCs and pDCs population in HIV-1 infected patients (%DCs p = 0.0132, %pDCs p = 0.0281) and IDUs (%DCs p = 0.006, %pDCs (p>0.0001) as compared to healthy individuals. The plasma levels of IFN-γ was significantly lower while level of IL-10 was significantly higher in HIV-1 infected patients as compared to IDUs (p = 0.0062, for IFN- γ and p = 0.0071 for IL-10) and healthy subjects (p = 0.004 for IFN- γ and p = 0.0068 for IL-10).

This is the first study to characterize the dendritic cells subpopulations in IDUs who are at high risk for HIV-1 infection. Further longitudinal studies on the status of dendritic cell subpopulations and their correlation with the cytokine profile will enable the elucidation of the precise role of dendritic cells in HIV-1 infection.

Affiliations

1. All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India

   • Omkar Chaudhary
   • , Anjali Hazarika
   •  & Kalpana Luthra

2. Regional STD Teaching Training & Research Centre, Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi, India

   • Manju Bala

3. Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, 136119, India

   • Jasbir Singh

4. Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses Center, Vasant Kunj, Delhi, India

   • Rajesh Kumar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kalpana Luthra.

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