Sex-based differences in T lymphocyte responses in HIV-1-seropositive individuals.
Sex-based differences in the levels of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) RNA in plasma could be associated with differences in the strength of HIV-1-specific CD8(+) T cell responses. CD8(+) effector responses in 18 men and 15 women were measured 0-2 years (time A) and 5-7 years (time B) after seroconversion. CD8(+) effector responses were seen in 7 (39%) of 18 men and 2 (13%) of 15 women at time A (P=.13) and in 12 (67%) of 18 men and 10 (67%) of 15 women at time B (P=.99). At time B, the strength of CD8(+) effector responses correlated with the number of CD4(+) lymphocytes in women ( rho =-0.68; P=.005) but not in men ( rho =-0.14; P=.58). The level of HIV-1 RNA was not associated with the strength of CD8(+) effector responses according to sex, but there was a sex-based difference in the correlation between the strength of CD8(+) effector response and the number of CD4(+) lymphocytes.
Sterling
Timothy R
TR
Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. timothy.sterling@vanderbilt.edu.
Pisell-Noland
Tracy
T
Perez
John L
JL
Astemborski
Jacquie
J
McGriff
Joelle R
JR
Nutting
Lisa
L
Hoover
Donald R
DR
Vlahov
David
D
Bollinger
Robert C
RC
D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D019562:Viral Load
D012367:RNA, Viral