Ability of HSV replication in human T-lymphocytes from HIV-infected patients

Abstract

HSV infection is an opportunistic infection found in HIV-infected patients. In such cases, the generalized infection is commonly occurred and may be caused by circulating HSV-infected T lymphocytes. Previous study demonstrated that HSV could replicate in T-lymphocytes but virion production has been shown to be lower than in epithelial cells. Moreover, the replication of HSV-1 increased in T-lymphocyte activated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA). One of these mechanisms may be upregulation of Herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) receptor after PHA activation. PHA activation status may mimic in vivo situation such as chronic infection with other organisms for example HIV. In this study, T-lymphocytes from HIV-infected patients and healthy individuals were determined on the expression of HVEM. Moreover, PBMC will be exposed to HSV-1. The number of HSV infected T-lymphocytes population and viral replications were investigated. In addition, HIV viral load was assayed to study effect of HSV-1 on HIV virion productions. The results showed that the percentage of activating T-lymphocytes (CD3+CD38+) in HIV-infected patients was high significantly more than the healthy individuals (p=0.001) but not that of HVEM expressing T-lymphocytes. Although, HVEM expressing T-lymphocytes was not different but MFI of HVEM in HIV-infected patients was less than healthy donors and showed inverse correlation against CD4 counts (p=0.03). Moreover, the percentage number of HSV-1 infection in T-lymphocytes from healthy donors was barely the same as that in HIV-infected patients. CD4+ T-lymphocytes from HIV-infected patients was more statistically significant susceptible to HSV-1 infection than those from healthy donors (p<0.001). In addition, virion productions after infection with HSV-1 in PBMC of HIV-infected patients were significantly greater than those of healthy individuals and the virion production was preferred to release out from cells rather than retain in the cells. The HSV-1 infection on PBMC of HIV-infected patients resulted in decrease of the HIV production when compared to mock infected cells.