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Review
. 2024 Aug 9;12(8):901.
doi: 10.3390/vaccines12080901.

T Cell Responses during Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Mycobacterium tuberculosis Coinfection

José Alejandro Bohórquez  1   2   3 , Chinnaswamy Jagannath  4 , Huanbin Xu  5 , Xiaolei Wang  5 , Guohua Yi  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

T Cell Responses during Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Mycobacterium tuberculosis Coinfection

José Alejandro Bohórquez et al. Vaccines (Basel). .

Abstract

Coinfection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a significant public health concern. Individuals infected with Mtb who acquire HIV are approximately 16 times more likely to develop active tuberculosis. T cells play an important role as both targets for HIV infection and mediators of the immune response against both pathogens. This review aims to synthesize the current literature and provide insights into the effects of HIV/Mtb coinfection on T cell populations and their contributions to immunity. Evidence from multiple in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrates that T helper responses are severely compromised during coinfection, leading to impaired cytotoxic responses. Moreover, HIV's targeting of Mtb-specific cells, including those within granulomas, offers an explanation for the severe progression of the disease. Herein, we discuss the patterns of differentiation, exhaustion, and transcriptomic changes in T cells during coinfection, as well as the metabolic adaptations that are necessary for T cell maintenance and functionality. This review highlights the interconnectedness of the immune response and the pathogenesis of HIV/Mtb coinfection.

Keywords: HIV; T cell response; coinfection; granuloma; tuberculosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Alterations in T cell phenotypes and functionality of the blood, lung, and gut compartments. Cell subsets are shown as proportionally decreased (red squares) or increased (green squares), as reported in the literature. Cytokine production in each cell phenotype is similarly shown as decreased (red lettering), unaffected (black lettering), or increased (green lettering). Image created using Biorender.com.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematization of the effect of HIV/Mtb coinfection in T cells. Events taking place during coinfection, affecting the phenotype/functionality (yellow background, numbered squares) and metabolism (white background, numbered circles) of T cells, are presented in a sequential manner, with different T cell subsets (CD4+, CD8+, and Treg) shown in different colors (green, red, and blue, respectively). Image created using Biorender.com.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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