Correlates of nontransmission in US women at high risk of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection through sexual exposure.
Seventeen women who were persistently uninfected by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), despite repeated sexual exposure, and 12 of their HIV-positive male partners were studied for antiviral correlates of non-transmission. Thirteen women had > or = 1 immune response in the form of CD8 cell noncytotoxic HIV-1 suppressive activity, proliferative CD4 cell response to HIV antigens, CD8 cell production of macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta, or ELISPOT assay for HIV-1-specific interferon-gamma secretion. The male HIV-positive partners without AIDS had extremely high CD8 cell counts. All 8 male partners evaluated showed CD8 cell-related cytotoxic HIV suppressive activity. Reduced CD4 cell susceptibility to infection, neutralizing antibody, single-cell cytokine production, and local antibody in the women played no apparent protective role. These observations suggest that the primary protective factor is CD8 cell activity in both the HIV-positive donor and the HIV-negative partner. These findings have substantial implications for vaccine development.
Skurnick
Joan H
JH
Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103-2714, USA. skurnick@umdnj.edu
Palumbo
Paul
P
DeVico
Anthony
A
Shacklett
Barbara L
BL
Valentine
Fred T
FT
Merges
Michael
M
Kamin-Lewis
Roberta
R
Mestecky
Jiri
J
Denny
Thomas
T
Lewis
George K
GK
Lloyd
Joan
J
Praschunus
Robert
R
Baker
Amanda
A
Nixon
Douglas F
DF
Stranford
Sharon
S
Gallo
Robert
R
Vermund
Sten H
SH
Louria
Donald B
DB
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology; D018925:Chemokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication
D018925:Chemokines; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007371:Interferon-gamma