Hierarchy Low CD4+/CD8+ T-Cell Counts and IFN-γ Responses in HIV-1+ Individuals Correlate with Active TB and/or M.tb Co-Infection

OBJECTIVE: Detailed studies of correlation between HIV-M.tb co-infection and hierarchy declines of CD8+/CD4+ T-cell counts and IFN-γ responses have not been done. We conducted case-control studies to address this issue. METHODS: 164 HIV-1-infected individuals comprised of HIV-1(+)ATB, HIV-1(+)LTB and HIV-1(+)TB(-) groups were evaluated. Immune phenotyping and complete blood count (CBC) were employed to measure CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts; T.SPOT.TB and intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) were utilized to detect ESAT6, CFP10 or PPD-specific IFN-γ responses. RESULTS: There were significant differences in median CD4+ T-cell counts between HIV-1(+)ATB (164/μL), HIV-1(+)LTB (447/μL) and HIV-1(+)TB(-) (329/μL) groups. Hierarchy low CD4+ T-cell counts (<200/μL, 200-500/μL, >500/μL) were correlated significantly with active TB but not M.tb co-infection. Interestingly, hierarchy low CD8+ T-cell counts were not only associated significantly with active TB but also with M.tb co-infection (P<0.001). Immunologically, HIV-1(+)ATB group showed significantly lower numbers of ESAT-6-/CFP-10-specific IFN-γ+ T cells than HIV-1(+)LTB group. Consistently, PPD-specific IFN-γ+CD4+/CD8+ T effector cells in HIV-1(+)ATB group were significantly lower than those in HIV-1(+)LTB group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Hierarchy low CD8+ T-cell counts and effector function in HIV-1-infected individuals are correlated with both M.tb co-infection and active TB. Hierarchy low CD4+ T-cell counts and Th1 effector function in HIV-1+ individuals are associated with increased frequencies of active TB, but not M.tb co-infection.