title: Mucosal and systemic immune activation is present in human immunodeficiency virus-exposed seronegative women.
abstract: Immune parameters were analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and cervical mucosa biopsy specimens of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seronegative women sexually exposed to HIV (exposed seronegative [ESN]), HIV-infected women, and healthy women without HIV exposure. HIV was not detected in PBMC or cervical mucosa biopsy specimens of ESN women. However, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and -beta mRNA were elevated in PBMC and cervical mucosa biopsy specimens of ESN and HIV-infected women; CCR5 and CXCR4 mRNA were augmented in cervical mucosa biopsy specimens, but not in PBMC, of ESN and HIV-infected women; HIV-specific IFN-gamma-secreting cells were detected in vaginal washes of ESN and HIV-infected women; and phenotypic alterations were present in PBMC of ESN women. These results suggest that active HIV infection is not required for T cell activation; immune alterations occur in women in whom HIV infection cannot be detected virologically or clinically.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Immunologia, Università di Milano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biasin
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Caputo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Speciale
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Racioppi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zagliani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blé
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vichi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cianferoni
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Masci
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mazzotta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clerici
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000235:genetics; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019713:Receptors, CCR5; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; D007371:Interferon-gamma