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BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article
Front. Med.
Sec. Infectious Diseases: Pathogenesis and Therapy
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1562537
Immunosenescence markers in T-and NK-cells according to the CD4/CD8 ratio in successfully treated people living with HIV
Provisionally accepted
Matteo Vassallo 1*
Durant Jacques 2
Michel Ticchioni 2
Roxane Fabre 2
David Chirio 2 Alissa Naqvi 2 Eric Cua 2 Leslie Ameil 2 Maeva Godemert 2
Christian Pradier 2 Michel Carles 2- 1 Centre Hospitalier de Cannes, Cannes, France
- 2 Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Nice, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
The CD4/CD8 ratio has emerged as a useful indicator of immune dysfunction and comorbid conditions in people living with HIV (PLWH).However, its optimal cut-off value is unclear.We explored the correlation between the CD4/CD8 ratio, immunosenescence markers and comorbid conditions.We prospectively included PLWH on successful and stable ART (antiretroviral therapy) > 60 years old and receiving either BIC/FTC/TAF or DTG/3TC, in Nice, France. HIV-negative healthy subjects were included as controls. We measured T-cell subsets (naïve, central memory, effector memory and terminally differentiated cells) and the distribution of KLRG1+CD57+ senescent cells. We correlated CD4/CD8 ratio, background measurements and comorbid conditions.We included 68 PLWH (median age 69 years, 31 years on ART, median CD4/CD8 ratio 0.76).PLWH had higher levels of senescence markers than controls (n=8). Among PLWH, adjusting for age, gender, HIV follow-up and duration on ART, those with a CD4/CD8 ratio < 0.76 had more senescent CD8+ cells (AdjOR=0.93, 95%CI=[0.88 ; 0.97], p-value=0.003). Higher levels of CD8+ senescence persisted for lower CD4/CD8 ratios, with, in addition, a significant decrease in NK cells in case of a ratio < 0.4.After adjustment, CD8+ effector memory senescent cells were significantly more abundant in PLWH with hypertension.Conclusions: PLWH on successful ART display elevated immunosenescence markers, mainly on CD8+ T-cells. A CD4/CD8 cut-off value below 0.4 showed the strongest association with immune dysfunction, including NK+ cells. Such results could be useful for identifying patients requiring closer follow-up and screening for complications.
Keywords: HIV, CD4/CD8 ratio, immunosenescence, Comorbidity, immune activation
Received: 17 Jan 2025; Accepted: 28 Mar 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Vassallo, Jacques, Ticchioni, Fabre, Chirio, Naqvi, Cua, Ameil, Godemert, Pradier and Carles. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Matteo Vassallo, Centre Hospitalier de Cannes, Cannes, France
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