Early HIV infection is associated with reduced proportions of gamma delta T subsets as well as high creatinine and urea levels

Renal dysfunctions are major predictors of co-morbidities and mortality in HIV-infected individuals. Unconventional T cells have been shown to regulate kidney functions. However, there is dearth of information on the effect of HIV-associated nephropathies on γδ and DN T cells. It is also not clear whether γδ T cell perturbations observed during the early stages of HIV infection occur before immune activation. In this study, we investigated the relationship between creatinine and urea on the number of unconventional T cells in HIV-infected individuals at the early and chronic stages of infection. Persons in the chronic stage of infection were divided into treatment naïve and exposed groups. Treatment exposed individuals were further subdivided into groups with undetectable and detectable HIV-1RNA in their blood. Creatinine and urea levels were significantly higher among persons in the early HIV infection compared with the other groups. Proportions of γδ T, γδ + CD8, γδ + CD16 cells were also significantly reduced in the early stage of HIV infection (P < .01). Markers of immune activation, CD4 + HLA-DR and CD8 + HLA-DR, were also significantly reduced during early HIV infection (P < .01). Taken together, our findings suggest that high levels of renal markers as well as reduced proportions of gamma delta T cells are associated with the early stages of HIV infection. This event likely occurs before systemic immune activation reaches peak levels. This study provides evidence for the need for early HIV infection diagnosis and treatment.