Low-level CD4+ T cell activation in HIV-exposed seronegative subjects: influence of gender and condom use.
Immune activation has been suggested to increase susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission, while at the same time it could be deemed essential for mounting an effective antiviral immune response. In this study, we compared levels of T cell activation between exposed seronegative (ESN) partners in HIV-1 discordant couples and HIV-unexposed control subjects in Dakar, Senegal. ESN subjects showed lower levels of CD38 expression on CD4(+) T cells than did control subjects. However, this was found to be associated with concurrent differences in the use of condoms: ESN subjects reported a higher degree of condom use than did control subjects, which correlated inversely with CD38 expression. In addition, we observed markedly higher levels of T cell activation in women compared with men, irrespective of sexual behavior. These findings question the relevance of low-level CD4(+) T cell activation in resistance to HIV-1 infection and underscore the need to take gender and sexual behavior characteristics of high-risk populations into account when analyzing correlates of protective immunity.
Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Bacteriology-Virology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Le Dantec, Dakar, Senegal.
Makhtar
M
Camara
Tandakha Ndiaye
TN
Dieye
Moussa
M
Seydi
Abdoul Aziz
AA
Diallo
Marema
M
Fall
Papa Alassane
PA
Diaw
Papa Salif
PS
Sow
Souleymane
S
Mboup
Luc
L
Kestens
Wim
W
Jennes
D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D012675:Senegal / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C498154:CD38 protein, human; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1