Effects of <i>N. gonorrhoeae</i> infection on HIV-1-specific CTL memory response.

<p>PBMCs from HIV-1-seropositive individuals were cocultured with HLA-restricted peptide-pulsed or nonpulsed autologous MDDCs that were previously infected for 72 h with <i>N. gonorrhoeae</i> N302, N303, N309, or N496, or <i>E.coli</i> DH5α, or CD40LT treatment at 1 µg/ml. On day 10 of coculture, HIV-1-specific CTL activity was assayed by intracellular staining and flow cytometric analysis of IFN-γ-producing CD8⁺ T cells. <b><i>A)</i></b> representative intracellular IFN-γ data obtained from Pt#1 of HIV-1 seropositive individual are shown. Cells were gated for CD3 and CD8 to enumerate IFN-γ-producing CD8⁺ T cells only. <b><i>B)</i></b> Summary data of intracellular IFN-γ production in CD8⁺ T cells from Pt#2 – Pt#5 are graphically depicted. <b><i>C)</i></b> Summary data of IFN-γ-producing CD8⁺ T cells from all patients tested are graphically depicted. The experiments from Pt#1 and Pt#2 were repeated with similar results. Statistical comparisons of data pooled from five participants were performed between Opa_CEA-expressing N309 and other gonococci strains, <i>E.coli</i> DH5α, or CD40LT treatment: N309 vs N302, <i>p</i> < 0.05; N309 vs N303, <i>p</i> < 0.05; N309 vs N496, <i>p</i> < 0.05; N309 vs <i>E.coli</i>, <i>p</i> < 0.05; N309 vs CD40LT, <i>p</i> < 0.001; DC = DC not pulsed with peptides; DCp = DC pulsed with peptides; CD40LT = CD40 ligand trimer.