title: Nadir B cell counts are significantly correlated with the risk of Kaposi's sarcoma.
abstract: Infection with HIV-1 is known to impair B cell function. To further elucidate the role of B cells during infection and tumorigenesis, we studied their numbers in cases of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) during the HAART era. Patients with AIDS-related KS were identified from a database of 4,480 HIV-1 positive individuals and the incidence of KS and rate ratio was stratified according to nadir number of B cells, measured as the CD19 count. In an unadjusted model, we observed that lower B cell counts were associated with a statistically significant increased risk of KS development (p < 0.001). We also observed a trend toward increased counts during KS resolution. When adjusted for nadir CD4 count in a multi-variable model, higher B cell counts were protective against KS development (p = 0.015). These data highlight a potential role for B cells and therefore the humoral immune system in KS aetiopathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Division of Investigative Science, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom. j.stebbing@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stebbing
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gazzard
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Newsom-Davis
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gotch
authors.forename: Sundhiya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mandalia
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bower
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D006801:Humans; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*