title: Elevated T cell counts and RANTES expression in the genital mucosa of HIV-1-resistant Kenyan commercial sex workers.
abstract: The initial site of exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 during heterosexual transmission occurs in the genital tract. Although the majority of immunological studies have focused on the immune response to HIV-1 at the systemic level, our understanding of tissue-specific immunity is deficient. The goal of the present study was to characterize T cell populations found in the cervix of women shown to be resistant to infection by HIV-1. Levels of both systemic and cervical mucosal lymphocytes were compared between HIV-1-resistant, HIV-1-uninfected, and HIV-1-infected commercial sex workers (CSWs) as well as HIV-1-uninfected non-CSW control subjects at low risk for exposure. The HIV-1-resistant CSWs had increased cervical CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts, compared with the HIV-1-uninfected CSWs; importantly, these increases were not reflected in the systemic lymphocyte compartment. There was a 2-fold increase in CD4+ T cell counts in the HIV-1-resistant CSWs, compared with both the HIV-1-infected and the HIV-1-uninfected CSWs. Expression of the HIV-1 coreceptors CCR5 and CXCR4 was also determined, and cytokine and beta chemokine levels in the genital mucosa were assessed. The HIV-1-resistant CSWs had a 10-fold increase in RANTES expression, compared with the HIV-1-uninfected CSWs. This is the first study to show elevated levels of beta chemokines and CD4+ T cells in the genital tracts of women who are exposed to HIV-1 and yet are uninfected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: Shehzad M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: Terry B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kimani
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kiama
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thottingal
authors.forename: Joanne E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Embree
authors.forename: Keith R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Fowke
authors.forename: Francis A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Plummer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D054407:Chemokine CCL4; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D007630:Kenya; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011477:Sex Work
chemical_list: D054407:Chemokine CCL4; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D016207:Cytokines; D019402:Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins