Transiently boosting Vγ9 Vδ2 γδ T cells early in Mtb coinfection of SIV-infected juvenile macaques does not improve Mtb host resistance

Abstract

Children living with HIV have a higher risk of developing tuberculosis (TB), a disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Gamma delta (γδ) T cells in the context of HIV/Mtb coinfection have been understudied in children despite in vitro evidence suggesting γδ T cells assist with Mtb control. We investigated whether boosting a specific subset of γδ T cells, phosphoantigen-reactive Vγ9+Vδ2+ cells, could improve TB outcome using a nonhuman primate model of pediatric HIV/Mtb coinfection. Juvenile Mauritian cynomolgus macaques (MCM), equivalent to 4- to 8-year-old children, were infected intravenously (i.v.) with SIV. After 6 months, MCM were coinfected with a low dose of M..