CD4+ T cell responses in HIV-exposed seronegative women are qualitatively distinct from those in HIV-infected women.
The immune response of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-exposed seronegative (ESN) women may be qualitatively different from that in those infected with HIV (HIV(+)). In a cohort of female commercial sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya, we found significantly lower (P< or =.01) levels of CD4(+)-specific immune activation and apoptosis in the ESN women compared with those in the HIV(+) women. Compared with the HIV(+) women, a lower proportion of the ESN women showed p24 peptide pool responses by the short-term, CD4(+)-specific, interferon (IFN)- gamma intracellular cytokine staining assay, whereas the proportion showing responses by the long-term, CD8(+)-depleted T cell proliferation assay was similar. Interestingly, the ESN responders had a 4.5-fold stronger proliferation response (P=.002) than the HIV(+) group. These data suggest that, compared with those in HIV(+) women, CD4(+) T cells in ESN women have a much greater ability to proliferate in response to p24 peptides.
Alimonti
Judie B
JB
Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0W3, Canada.
Koesters
Sandra A
SA
Kimani
Joshua
J
Matu
Lucy
L
Wachihi
Charles
C
Plummer
Francis A
FA
Fowke
Keith R
KR
D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D007630:Kenya; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000276:immunology
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D007371:Interferon-gamma