Alteration of CCR6 + CD95 + CD4 + naïve T cells in HIV-1 infected patients: Implication for clinical practice.

The profound deficiency of Th17 cells contributes to HIV disease progression. The mechanisms of their perturbation remain unclear. Recently, CCR6+ CD95+ CD4+ naïve T cells (CCR6+ CD95+ CD4+ TNA ), identified as pre-committed Th17 precursors, were recognized as a subpopulation of CD4+ T cells with stem cell properties. Following phenotypical identification, we evaluated their level in patients during chronic HIV infection and following antiretroviral therapy (ART) using flow cytometry. The levels of CCR6+ CD95+ CD4+ TNA were decreased during chronic HIV infection and correlated with CD4+ T cell counts. Immunological responders harbored higher frequency of CCR6+ CD95+ CD4+ TNA , which was associated with CD4/CD8 T cell ratio. Immunological non-responders with lower frequency of CCR6+ CD95+ CD4+ TNA failed to exhibit a correlation between CCR6+ CD95+ CD4+ TNA and CCR6+ CD95+ CD4+ TCM , and displayed elevated ratio of CCR6+ CD95+ CD4+ TCM /TNA . The number of CCR6+ CD95+ CD4+ TNA was increased following early ART. These findings shed light on the importance of targeting pre-committed Th17 precursors that enhance immune reconstitution.