Polyfunctional T-cells associate with chronic viral infection control while their involvement in tuberculosis (TB) is unclear. We evaluated TB-specific polyfunctional T-cell response and memory status in antiretroviral treatment (ART)-naïve HIV-infected patients from a low TB-endemic country.

We prospectively enrolled HIV-infected patients, 12 with active TB (HIV–TB) and 15 with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Peripheral blood cells were stimulated with TB antigens (RD1 proteins/peptides), HIV antigens, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and analyzed by cytometry.

The HIV–TB showed a higher frequency of polyfunctional CD4⁺ T-cells in response to RD1 antigens than HIV–LTBI (p = 0.007). Among the CD8⁺ T-cells, both groups showed a significantly higher frequency of RD1-specific monofunctional cells than polyfunctional cells (p = 0.03). Analyzing the cytokine profile, IFNγ⁺ TNFα⁺ CD4⁺ T-cells associated with HIV–TB (p ≤ 0.02) whereas IL2⁺ TNFα⁺ associated with HIV–LTBI (p = 0.009). CD4⁺ T-cell response presented an effector-memory status in HIV–TB (p = 0.007) and an effector-memory terminally-differentiated phenotype in HIV–LTBI (p = 0.03). CD8⁺ T-cell response presented an effector status in HIV–LTBI (p = 0.02). No significant cytokine profile pattern associated with responses to the other stimuli tested.

In HIV-infection, polyfunctional CD4⁺ T-cell-response associates with active TB, characterized by a high proportion of IFNγ⁺ TNFα⁺ and an effector-memory phenotype.