α4β7 CD4 T cells are prone to be infected by HIV-1 and associated with HIV-1 disease progression.

Introduction: To investigate the characteristics of β7 CD4 T cells during HIV-1 infection and the relationship between β7 CD4 T cells and HIV-1 disease progress.

Methods: This study enrolled 124 HIV-1-infected patients, including 80 treatment naïve patients (TNs), 41 patients who underwent antiretroviral therapy (ARTs), and three long-term no progression patients (LTNPs). Nineteen matched healthy subjects were included as controls (HCs). The characteristics and frequency of β7 CD4 T cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. An in vitro culture experiment was used to study HIV-1 infection of β7 CD4 T cells. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to quantify HIV-1 DNA and CA-RNA levels.

Results: The frequency of β7 CD4 T in the peripheral blood was significantly decreased and negatively correlated with disease progression during chronic HIV-1 infection. A large proportion of β7 CD4 T cells showed Th17 phenotype. Furthermore, β7 CD4 T cells were preferentially infected by HIV-1 in vitro and in vivo. There were no significant differences of HIV-1 DNA, and CA-RNA levels between β7 CD4 T and β7 CD4 T subsets in HIV-1 infected individuals after antiviral treatment.

Conclusion: The β7 CD4 T cells were negatively correlated with disease progression during chronic HIV-1 infection. β7 CD4 T cells are susceptible to infection with HIV-1 and HIV-1 latent cells.