title: Dysfunctional B-cell responses during HIV-1 infection: implication for influenza vaccination and highly active antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: Although HIV-1 infection does not directly target B cells, B-cell numbers are reduced and their function is impaired during HIV infection. Antibody titres against antigens previously encountered through vaccination or natural infection are low in patients with HIV. Intrinsic B-cell defects might be involved in the impairment of humoral immunity during early HIV infection. Abnormal T-cell activation and the altered expression of molecules involved in the B-cell homing process cause dysfunctional interaction between T and B cells in the germinal centres of lymphoid tissues, which might impair B-cell responses during HIV infection. Class-switch recombination is also impaired in individuals with HIV. Protective immune responses against T-cell-dependent antigens, including influenza antigens, rely on the production of neutralising antibodies. Impaired B-cell responses during HIV infection could therefore hamper the effectiveness of vaccinations against seasonal influenza or the new pandemic influenza A H1N1 vaccines in individuals with HIV. By maintaining B-cell responses, highly active antiretroviral therapy might improve the efficacy of influenza vaccines in individuals with HIV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cagigi
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pensieroso
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiodi
mesh_terms: D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000276:immunology; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines