Advanced in immunological monitoring of HIV infection: profile of immune cells and cytokines in people living with HIV-1 in Benin.

BACKGROUND: Immune cells and cytokines have been linked to viremia dynamic and immune status during HIV infection. They may serve as useful biomarkers in the monitoring of people living with HIV-1 (PLHIV-1). The present work was aimed to assess whether cytokines and immune cell profiles may help in the therapeutic follow-up of PLHIV-1. METHODS: Forty PLHIV-1 in treatment success (PLHIV-1s) and fifty PLHIV-1 in treatment failure (PLHIV-1f) followed at the University Hospital of Abomey-Calavi/Sô-Ava in Benin were enrolled. Twenty healthy persons were also recruited as control group. Circulating cytokines and immune cells were quantified respectively by ELISA and flow cytometry. RESULTS: PLHIV-1 exhibited low proportions of CD4 + T cells, NK, NKT, granulocytes, classical and non-classical monocytes, and high proportions of CD8 + T cells, particularly in the PLHIV-1f group, compared to control subjects. Eosinophils, neutrophils and B cell frequencies did not change between the study groups. Circulating IFN-γ decreased whereas IL-4 significantly increased in PLHIV-1s compared to PLHIV-1f and control subjects even though the HIV infection in PLHIV-1s downregulated the high Th1 phenotype observed in control subjects. However, Th1/Th2 ratio remained biased to a Th1 phenotype in PLHIV-1f, suggesting that high viral load may have maintained a potential pro-inflammatory status in these patients. Data on inflammatory cytokines showed that IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations were significantly higher in PLHIV-1s and PLHIV-1f groups than in control subjects. Significant high levels of IL-5 and IL-7 were observed in PLHIV-1f compared to controls whereas PLHIV-1s presented only a high level of IL-5. No change was observed in IL-13 levels between the study groups. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that, in addition to CD4/CD8 T cell ratio, NK and NKT cells along with IL-6, TNF-α, IL-5 and IL-7 cytokines could serve as valuable immunological biomarkers in the therapeutic monitoring of PLHIV-1 although a larger number of patients would be necessary to confirm these results.

Human leukocyte antigen HLA-B*57:01 status in HIV-1 patients developing hypersensitivity reactions in Benin: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral drugs in people living with HIV-1 (PLHIV-1) often trigger side effects which may lead to discontinuation or failure of treatment. Human Leukocyte Antigen B*57:01 (HLA-B*57:01) allele is known to predict hypersensitivity reactions to Abacavir. Very few data are available on the prevalence of HLA-B*57:01 allele in PLHIV-1 in African countries. This study aimed to screen for HLA-B*57:01 allele in PLHIV-1 in Benin. METHODS: This pilot study was carried out on one hundred ten PLHIV-1 enrolled in two health facilities in Benin. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected. Biological data were determined and HLA-B*57:01 allele was genotyped, using Single Specific Primer-Polymerase Chain Reaction in blood samples. RESULTS: 70% of participants were female. PLHIV-1 were under TDF + 3TC + DTG (47.2%) or TDF + 3TC + EFV (57.3%). Their median age was 41 [36-48.75] years and the average CD4 + T cell count was 249 [130-381.25] cells/µl. The average viral load in treatment failure PLHIV-1 was 4.7 [3.9-5.2] Log10. At the inclusion date, twenty-nine (26.4%) PLHIV-1 under TDF + 3TC + EFV have developed hypersensitivity reactions. None of 110 patients had shown HLA-B*5701 allele. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that HLA-B*57:01 allele was very rare in PLHIV-1 in Benin, suggesting that its screening before starting the Abacavir regimen did not seem necessary.