title: HIV-specific antibodies but not t-cell responses are associated with protection in seronegative partners of HIV-1-infected individuals in Cambodia.
abstract: To study biological factors related to protection against HIV-1 infection in Cambodia, we recruited 48 partners of HIV-1-infected patients who remained uninfected (exposed uninfected individuals, EUs) despite unprotected sexual intercourse for more than 1 year and 49 unexposed controls (UCs). HIV-1-specific antibodies (IgA anti-gp41 and IgG anti-CD4-gp120 complex), T-cell responses, and cellular factors that may be involved in protection (peripheral blood mononuclear cell [PBMC] resistance to HIV-1 infection and beta-chemokine production) were evaluated. Anti-HIV-1 antibodies were higher in EUs than those in UCs (P = 0.01 and P = 0.04 for anti-gp41 and anti-CD4-gp120, respectively). We observed a decreased susceptibility to a primary Cambodian isolate, HIV-1KH019, in EU PBMCs as compared with UC PBMCs (P = 0.03). A weak T-cell response to one pool of HIV-1 Gag peptides was found by ELISpot in 1 of 19 EUs. Whereas T-cell specific immunity was not associated to protection, our results suggest that HIV-specific humoral immunity and reduced cell susceptibility to infection may contribute to protection against HIV-1 infection in Cambodian EUs.
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. marie@pasteur.fr
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Polidy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pean
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lopalco
authors.forename: Janin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nouhin
authors.forename: Viseth
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Phoung
authors.forename: Nary
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ly
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vermisse
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Henin
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barré-Sinoussi
authors.forename: Samuele E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Burastero
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Reynes
authors.forename: Guislaine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carcelain
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pancino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002160:Cambodia; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies