Distinct profile of T cell activation in HIV type 2 compared to HIV type 1 infection: differential mechanism for immunoprotection.
The mechanism for the lower rate of disease progression in HIV-2 infection remains undefined. We evaluated T cell activation in a cohort of HIV-infected commercial sex workers in Dakar, Senegal. CD8+ T cell activation was significantly lower in HIV-2- compared to HIV-1-infected volunteers and both groups displayed higher activation levels compared to seronegative individuals. In contrast, CD4+ T cell activation was similar between the HIV-1 and HIV-2 groups and significantly higher compared to the seronegative group. Interestingly, HIV-2-positive volunteers with evidence of Gag-specific CD8+ T cell responses displayed lower CD4+ T cell activation. Our data suggest that the distinct T cell activation profile in HIV-2-positive individuals may reflect on the presence of effective host immune responses in HIV-2 infection.
Hanson
Andrea
A
California Department of Health Services, Richmond, California 94804, USA.
Sarr
Abdoulaye Dieng
AD
Shea
Amy
A
Jones
Norman
N
Mboup
Souleymane
S
Kanki
Phyllis
P
Cao
Huyen
H
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1; D015498:HIV-2; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012675:Senegal; D011477:Sex Work; D013045:Species Specificity
D015683:Gene Products, gag