HIV-specific antibodies but not t-cell responses are associated with protection in seronegative partners of HIV-1-infected individuals in Cambodia.
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.
Nguyen
Marie
M
Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. marie@pasteur.fr
Pean
Polidy
P
Lopalco
Lucia
L
Nouhin
Janin
J
Phoung
Viseth
V
Ly
Nary
N
Vermisse
Pierre
P
Henin
Yvette
Y
Barré-Sinoussi
Françoise
F
Burastero
Samuele E
SE
Reynes
Jean-Marc
JM
Carcelain
Guislaine
G
Pancino
Gianfranco
G
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*
D015483:HIV Antibodies