PD-1 blockade exacerbates Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in rhesus macaques

Boosting immune cell function by targeting the coinhibitory receptor PD-1 may have applications in the treatment of chronic infections. Here, we examine the role of PD-1 during Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection of rhesus macaques. Animals treated with anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody developed worse disease and higher granuloma bacterial loads compared with isotype control-treated monkeys. PD-1 blockade increased the number and functionality of granuloma Mtb-specific CD8 T cells. In contrast, Mtb-specific CD4 T cells in anti-PD-1 - treated macaques were not increased in number or function in granulomas, expressed increased levels of CTLA-4, and exhibited reduced intralesional trafficking in live imaging studies. In granulomas of anti-PD-1-treated animals, multiple proinflammatory cytokines were elevated, and more cytokines correlated with bacterial loads, leading to the identification of a role for caspase 1 in the exacerbation of tuberculosis after PD-1 blockade. Last, increased Mtb bacterial loads after PD-1 blockade were found to associate with the composition of the intestinal microbiota before infection in individual macaques. Therefore, PD-1-mediated coinhibition is required for control of Mtb infection in macaques, perhaps because of its role in dampening detrimental inflammation and allowing for normal CD4 T cell responses.

Automated summary

Blocking PD-1 increases the number and functionality of Mtb-specific CD8 T cells in granulomas of rhesus macaques, but has a lesser impact on CD4 T cells with more of an inhibitory effect.