Defective Antigen Presentation Leads to Upregulation of PD1 and IL-10 in HIV-TB Co-Infection

Human immunodeficiency virus-tuberculosis (HIV-TB) co-infection poses a challenge to the immunologists in developing new diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Mechanisms behind the breakdown of the immune defense of the co-infected individual are poorly known. Numerous studies in HIV alone have revealed the role of PD1, TAP, and IL-10, but not in co-infection. The interaction of the 2 distinct bugs, which is resulting in domination over the host immune system, is still a lacuna. Hence, we aimed to portray functions of IL-10, TAP, and PD1 molecules in HIV-TB co-infection. Co-culture cells challenged with γ-irradiated M.Tb under various conditions resulted in high interleukin (IL)-10 secretion and high percentage of PD1 expression on CD8 T cells, which might be due to defective antigen presentation of TAP on dendritic cells and macrophages. Herein our observations provide an insight into the escape mechanisms by M.Tb in HIV-infected individuals from the host immune responses leading to TB co-infection.