Ability of HIV to Promote a T H 1 to T H 0 Shift and to Replicate Preferentially in T H 2 and T H 0 Cells

Abstract

Both interferon γ (IFN-γ) produced by T helper 1 (T H 1) lymphocytes and interleukin-4 (IL-4) produced by T H 2 lymphocytes were reduced in either bulk circulating mononuclear cells or mitogen-induced CD4 + T cell clones from the peripheral blood of individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). There was a preferential reduction in clones producing IL-4 and IL-5 in the advanced phases of infection. However, enhanced proportions of CD4 + T cell clones producing both T H 1-type and T H 2-type cytokines (T H 0 clones) were generated from either skin-infiltrating T cells that had been activated in vivo or peripheral blood T cells stimulated by antigen in vitro when cells were isolated from HIV-infected individuals. All T H 2 and most T H 0 clones supported viral replication, although viral replication was not detected in any of the T H 1 clones infected in vitro with HIV. These results suggest that HIV (i) does not induce a definite T H 1 to T H 2 switch, but can favor a shift to the T H 0 phenotype in response to recall antigens, and (ii) preferentially replicates in CD4 + T cells producing T H 2-type cytokines (T H 2 and T H 0).