Differential modulation of CCR5-tropic human immunodeficiency virus–1 transfer from macrophages towards T cells under interleukin-4/interleukin-13 microenvironment

Macrophages constitute major human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reservoirs at the mucosal level, and their functional activity is modulated by cytokine environments that could play a role in HIV-1 mucosal spread. As proof of concept, we herein evaluated the modulation of HIV/macrophages interactions associated with two ubiquitous Th2 cytokines, namely, interleukin (IL)–4 and IL-13, using the in vitro model of R5-HIV-1 transfer from macrophages to T lymphocytes. Monocyte-derived macrophages differentiated in the presence of IL-4 (M-4) transferred the virus to T cells more efficiently than those differentiated in the presence of interleukin-13 (M-13), likely because to their high capacity to capture and produce HIV-1 and to recruit HIV-1 target T cell. However, M-13 harbored high levels of HIV DNA, similarly to M-4, and secreted HIV-activating factors. Notably, uninfected macrophages recruited HIV-1 target T cells (CCR4+IL-13+ Th2 cells and CD4+CCR5+ T cells), indicating their role in facilitating the HIV-1 spread by a passive manner. Strikingly, R5-HIV-1 reprogrammed macrophages toward a Th1 secretion pattern. Thus, Th2 microenvironment facilitates the emergence of HIV-1 macrophage reservoir and HIV-1 spread. In conclusion, secreted cytokines within mucosae may differentially influence both the HIV-1 production within the mucosal target cells reservoir and its spread thorough the mucosal tissue.