title: Infection by different HIV-1 subtypes (B and C) results in a similar immune activation profile despite distinct immune backgrounds.
abstract: We compared the immune activation profile of 46 HIV-negative and 75 HIV-positive Israelis infected with HIV-1 subtype B, with 85 HIV-negative and 102 HIV-positive Ethiopian immigrants to Israel, who were infected with HIV subtype C. The HIV-negative Ethiopians had exceedingly high blood levels of eosinophils, immunoglobulin E (IgE), and p75s tumor-necrosis factor receptors (p75sTNFR); secretion of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC); proportion of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR+ cells within CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T-cell subsets; and proportion of CD45RO+ CD4+ cells; while having significantly lower secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) by PBMC and percentage of CD45RA+ CD4+ and CD28+ CD8+ cells. HIV infection in both populations was associated with reduced IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-12 secretion, number of CD28+ and CD45RA+ CD8+ cells, and increased number of HLA-DR+-CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells, and CD45RO+ CD8+ cells. Thus, infection with HIV-1 subtypes B and C of studied Israelis and Ethiopians, respectively, results in a similar immune activation profile at all stages of the infection when living in the same environment, despite the striking different immune profile observed in the HIV-negative Israeli and Ethiopian populations. Together with our previous observations, this indicates that HIV subtype is not a major determinant in the natural course of HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: R. Ben-Ari Institute of Clinical Immunology, AIDS Center, Kaplan Medical Center, Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Weisman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalinkovich
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borkow
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bentwich
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007557:Israel; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood; D019529:Sexuality; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D016207:Cytokines; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D007073:Immunoglobulin E