A strong CD4+ T cell response has been correlated with better control of HIV infection. However, the effect of HIV on the maintenance of Ag-specific memory CD4+ T cells is not fully understood. We characterized the function and phenotype of memory CD4+ T cells generated by mumps and influenza A or B viruses in HIV-infected individuals receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (n = 21), HIV-infected long-term nonprogressors (n = 10), and HIV-seronegative volunteers (n = 10). We observed significantly decreased proliferation of the Ag-specific central memory CD4+ T cell population (CD28+/CCR7+/CD45RA−) in the antiretroviral treated HIV-infected individuals compared with the seronegative controls. Restored CD4+ T cell count and decreased HIV viral load while on highly active antiretroviral therapy did not result in increased proliferation, whereas nadir CD4+ T cell count predicted the presence of Ag-specific proliferation. Our results indicate that HIV infection leads to impaired maintenance of virus-induced or vaccine-generated central memory CD4+ T cells that is not restored by HAART.

Impaired virus-specific immune responses have previously been observed with Schistosoma mansoni coinfection. We characterized Gag-specific responses in HIV-1-positive Ugandans with and without S. mansoni coinfection. We observed no significant difference in the frequency of IFN-γ CD8+ T cells between the two groups. Interestingly, expression of CD107, a marker for cytolytic activity, was significantly lower in volunteers with S. mansoni coinfection compared with those with HIV-1 infection alone (p = 0.002). In contrast, the frequency of IL-10-positive Gag-specific CD8+ T cell responses was higher in volunteers with S. mansoni coinfection (p = 0.004). Analysis of human CMV-specific CD8+ T cell responses in the same individuals failed to reveal a similar pattern of altered CD107 and IL-10 expression. Our results suggest that S. mansoni coinfection is associated with decreased Gag-specific CD8+ cytolytic T cell responses and increased number of Gag-specific IL-10 positive CD8+ T cells. Our findings may have important implications toward the implementation of HIV preventive and therapeutic programs in Africa.