Low CD1c + myeloid dendritic cell counts correlated with a high risk of rapid disease progression during early HIV-1 infection

Background: During early HIV-1 infection (EHI), the interaction between the immune response and the virus determines disease progression. Although CD1c + myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) can trigger the immune response, the relationship between CD1c + mDC alteration and disease progression has not yet been defined. Methods: EHI changes in CD1c + mDC counts, surface marker (CD40, CD86, CD83) expression, and IL-12 secretion were assessed by flow cytometry in 29 patients. Results: When compared with the normal controls, patients with EHI displayed significantly lower CD1c + mDC counts and IL-12 secretion and increased surface markers. CD1c+mDC counts were positively correlated with CD4+ T cell counts and inversely associated with viral loads. IL-12 secretion was only positively associated with CD4+ T cell counts. Rapid progressors had lower counts, CD86 expression, and IL-12 secretion of CD1c+ mDCs comparing with typical progressors. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression models suggested patients with low CD1c+mDC counts (<10 cells/μL) had a 4-fold higher risk of rapid disease progression than those with high CD1c+ mDC counts. However, no relationship was found between surface markers or IL-12 secretion and disease progression. Conclusions: During EHI, patients with low CD1c+mDC counts were more likely to experience rapid disease progression than those with high CD1c +mDC counts.