title: HIV-specific mucosal and cellular immunity in HIV-seronegative partners of HIV-seropositive individuals.
abstract: HIV-specific mucosal and cellular immunity was analyzed in heterosexual couples discordant for HIV status in serum and in HIV-unexposed controls. HIV-specific IgA but not IgG was present in urine and vaginal wash samples from HIV-exposed seronegative individuals (ESN), whereas both IgA and IgG were observed in their HIV-seropositive partners; antibodies were not detected in low-risk controls. Envelope protein (Env) peptide-stimulated interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was detected in 9 out of 16 ESNs, 5 out of 16 HIV-infected patients and 1 out of 50 controls. Env peptide-stimulated PBMCs of ESNs produced more IL-2 and less IL-10 compared with those of HIV-infected individuals; no differences were observed in chemokine production or in CCR5 expression. These data demonstrate that a compartmentalized immune response to pathogens is possible in humans and raise the possibility of protective roles for cell-mediated immunity and mucosal IgA in HIV-seronegative individuals exposed to HIV.
authors.affiliation: Centro M.S.T./U.O. Malattie Infettive, Ospedale S.M. Annunziata, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazzoli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trabattoni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lo Caputo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piconi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blé
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meacci
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruzzante
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salvi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Semplici
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Longhi
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Fusi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tofani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biasin
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mazzotta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clerici
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000378:metabolism; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000378:metabolism; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014621:Vagina / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D019742:Chemokines, CC; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D015686:Gene Products, env; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012367:RNA, Viral; D019713:Receptors, CCR5