Evaluation of CD103 (αEβ7) integrin expression by CD8 T cells in blood as a surrogate marker to predict cervical T cell responses in the female genital tract during HIV infection

Mucosal homing receptors expressed by blood T cells may be useful surrogates for measuring mucosal T cell immune responses at the site of HIV transmission. Here, we investigated whether HIV-specific responses by T cells expressing the mucosal integrin receptor CD103 in blood reliably predicted corresponding HIV-specific responses at the cervix. The frequency of CD8+ T cells expressing CD103 in blood correlated significantly with the number of CD103 + CD8+ T cells from the cervix suggesting that CD103 was involved in trafficking of T cells from blood to the cervical mucosa. TGF-β concentrations in plasma were significantly associated with the frequency of CD103 expression by blood but not cervical CD8 T cells. The majority of Gag-responsive CD8 T cells were CD103+ in both blood and at the cervix. Despite this, the magnitude of Gag-specific IFN-γ responses by CD103 + CD8+ T cells in blood did not predict similar Gag-specific responses at the cervix.

► CD103 is a homing receptor involved in trafficking to the genital mucosa. ► CD103+ T cell responses in blood may predicted genital tract responses. ► CD103 expression by blood CD8 T cells predicted numbers of cervical CD8+ T cells. ► HIV responsive CD8 T cells were predominantly CD103+ in blood and cervix. ► HIV responses by CD103+ cells in blood did not predict cervical responses.