Increased production of b-cell activating cytokines and altered peripheral b-cell subset distribution during hiv-related classical hodgkin lymphoma

Raphael Lievin (1) , Houria Hendel-Chavez (2, 3) , Aliou Baldé (4) , Rémi Lancar (4) , Michèle Algarte-Génin (4) , Roman Krzysiek (2) , Dominique Costagliola (4) , Lambert K. Assoumou (4) , Yassine Taoufik (2) , Caroline M. Besson (5, 1, 6)

1 CHV - Centre Hospitalier de Versailles André Mignot
2 Hôpital Bicêtre [AP-HP, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre]
3 INTIM - Immunologie intégrative des tumeurs et immunothérapie des cancers
4 iPLESP - Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique
5 CESP - Centre de recherche en épidémiologie et santé des populations
6 UVSQ Santé - Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines - UFR Sciences de la santé Simone Veil

Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma incidence increases in HIV-1-infected patients (HIV-cHL). HIV infection is associated with higher B-cell activation. Here, in 38 HIV-cHL patients from the French cohort ANRS-CO16 Lymphovir, we examined longitudinally over 24 months the serum levels of the B-cell activating cytokines IL10, IL6, and BAFF, and blood distribution of B-cell subsets. Fourteen HIV-cHL patients were also compared to matched HIV-infected controls without cHL. IL10, IL6, and BAFF levels were higher in HIV-cHL patients than in controls (p < 0.0001, p = 0.002, and p < 0.0001, respectively). Cytokine levels increased in patients with advanced-stage lymphoma compared to those with limited-stage (p = 0.002, p = 0.03, and p = 0.01, respectively). Cytokine levels significantly decreased following HIV-cHL diagnosis and treatment. Blood counts of whole B-cells were similar in HIV-cHL patients and controls, but the distribution of B-cell subsets was different with higher ratios of naive B-cells over memory B-cells in HIV-cHL patients. Blood accumulation of naive B-cells was more marked in patients with advanced cHL stages (p = 0.06). During the follow-up, total B-cell counts increased (p < 0.0001), and the proportion of naive B-cells increased further (p = 0.04). Together the results suggest that in HIV-infected patients, cHL is associated with a particular B-cell-related environment that includes increased production of B-cell-activating cytokines and altered peripheral distribution of B-cell subsets. This B-cell-related environment may fuel the process of tumorigenesis.

Mots clés: Cytokines; HIV; Hodgkin lymphoma; Immunology

Domaines: Cancer; Hématologie; Immunité adaptative; Maladies infectieuses

Raphael Lievin, Houria Hendel-Chavez, Aliou Baldé, Rémi Lancar, Michèle Algarte-Génin, et al.. Increased production of b-cell activating cytokines and altered peripheral b-cell subset distribution during hiv-related classical hodgkin lymphoma. Cancers, 2022, 14 (1), pp.128. ⟨10.3390/cancers14010128⟩. ⟨hal-03524494⟩