Acute HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 Infections Share Slan+ Monocyte Depletion-Evidence from an Hyperacute HIV-1 Case Report.

Viruses 2021 Sep 10

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Monocytes are key modulators in acute viral infections, determining both inflammation and development of specific B- and T-cell responses. Recently, these cells were shown to be associated to different SARS-CoV-2 infection outcome. However, their role in acute HIV-1 infection remains unclear. We had the opportunity to evaluate the mononuclear cell compartment in an early hyper-acute HIV-1 patient in comparison with an untreated chronic HIV-1 and a cohort of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients, by high dimensional flow cytometry using an unsupervised approach. A distinct polarization of the monocyte phenotype was observed in the two viral infections, with maintenance of pro-inflammatory M1-like profile in HIV-1, in contrast to the M2-like immunosuppressive shift in SARS-CoV-2. Noticeably, both acute infections had reduced CD14low/-CD16+ non-classical monocytes, with depletion of the population expressing Slan (6-sulfo LacNac), which is thought to contribute to immune surveillance through pro-inflammatory properties. This depletion indicates a potential role of these cells in acute viral infection, which has not previously been explored. The inflammatory state accompanied by the depletion of Slan+ monocytes may provide new insights on the critical events that determine the rate of viral set-point in acute HIV-1 infection and subsequent impact on transmission and reservoir establishment.

Citation

Guilherme B Farias, Robert Badura, Carolina M Conceição, André M C Gomes, Ana Godinho-Santos, Joel Laia, Pedro Rosmaninho, Diana F Santos, Catarina Mota, Afonso R M Almeida, Susana M Fernandes, Amelia C Trombetta, Ana E Sousa. Acute HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 Infections Share Slan+ Monocyte Depletion-Evidence from an Hyperacute HIV-1 Case Report. Viruses. 2021 Sep 10;13(9)