The Role of CD4+ T Cell Help and CD40 Ligand in the In Vitro Expansion of HIV-1-Specific Memory Cytotoxic CD8+ T Cell Responses

Abstract

CD4+ T cells have been shown to play a critical role in the maintenance of an effective anti-viral CD8+ CTL response in murine models. Recent studies have demonstrated that CD4+ T cells provide help to CTLs through ligation of the CD40 receptor on dendritic cells. The role of CD4+ T cell help in the expansion of virus-specific CD8+ memory T cell responses was examined in normal volunteers recently vaccinated to influenza and in HIV-1 infected individuals. In recently vaccinated normal volunteers, CD4+ T cell help was required for optimal in vitro expansion of influenza-specific CTL responses. Also, CD40 ligand trimer (CD40LT) enhanced CTL responses and was able to completely substitute for CD4+ T cell help in PBMCs from normal volunteers. In HIV-1 infection, CD4+ T cell help was required for optimal expansion of HIV-1-specific memory CTL in vitro in 9 of 10 patients. CD40LT could enhance CTL in the absence of CD4+ T cell help in the majority of patients; however, the degree of enhancement of CTL responses was variable such that, in some patients, CD40LT could not completely substitute for CD4+ T cell help. In those HIV-1-infected patients who demonstrated poor responses to CD40LT, a dysfunction in circulating CD8+ memory T cells was demonstrated, which was reversed by the addition of cytokines including IL-2. Finally, it was demonstrated that IL-15 produced by CD40LT-stimulated dendritic cells may be an additional mechanism by which CD40LT induces the expansion of memory CTL in CD4+ T cell-depleted conditions, where IL-2 is lacking.