High abundance of genus Prevotella is associated with dysregulation of IFN-I and T cell response in HIV-1-infected patients

Objective: HIV-1-associated dysbiosis is most commonly characterized by overall decreased diversity, with abundance of the genus Prevotella, recently related to inflammatory responses. Design: A pilot study including 10 antiretroviral therapy-treated HIV-1-infected men and 50 uninfected controls was performed to identify the main gut dysbiosis determinants (e.g. Prevotella enrichment), that may affect mucosal antiviral defenses and T cell immunity in HIV-1-infected individuals. Methods: 16rRNA gene sequencing was applied to the HIV-1-infected individuals’ fecal microbiota and compared with controls. Measurements of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell activation [CD38, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR, CD38 HLA-DR] and frequencies of Th17, obtained from lamina propria lymphocytes isolated from five different intestinal sites, were performed by flow cytometry. IFNβ, IFNAR1 and MxA gene expression level was evaluated by real-time PCR in lamina propria lymphocytes. Nonparametric t tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: HIV-1-infected men had a significant fecal microbial communities’ imbalance, including different levels of genera Faecalibacterium, Prevotella, Alistipes and Bacteroides, compared with controls. Notably, Prevotella abundance positively correlated with frequencies of CD4+ T cells expressing CD38 or HLA-DR and coexpressing CD38 and HLA-DR (P 
Source: AIDS - Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: BASIC SCIENCE: CONCISE COMMUNICATIONS Source Type: research