Decreased 4-1BB expression on HIV-specific CD4+ T cells is associated with sustained viral replication and reduced IL-2 production

CD4+ T cell dysfunction in subjects with chronic HIV infection is in part due to an imbalance of costimulatory and coinhibitory receptors. We report that virus-specific CD4+ T cells expressing 4-1BB (CD137) or OX40 (CD134) produced more IL-2 than cells lacking these costimulatory receptors (P < 0.05) and that 4-1BB was expressed at a lower level on HIV- than CMV-specific IFN-γ and IL-2 producing CD4+ T cells (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.01, respectively). Suppression of viral replication with antiretroviral therapy was associated with increased 4-1BB expression on HIV- and CMV-specific IL-2 producing CD4+ T cells (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) and the percentage of IL-2 producing HIV-specific CD4+ T cells that expressed 4-1BB was inversely correlated with HIV plasma viral load (r = − 0.75, P = 0.007). These findings indicate that the loss of 4-1BB on HIV-specific CD4+ T cells is associated with viral replication and that it may contribute to reduced IL-2 production observed during chronic infection.