title: Salivary basic proline-rich proteins are elevated in HIV-exposed seronegative men who have sex with men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Innate mucosal factors are associated with protection in HIV-exposed seronegative (HESN) individuals, but studies of MSM have been very limited. We performed proteomic analysis of saliva from a cohort of HESN MSM who have regular unprotected oral receptive intercourse with their HIV-infected partner.
  
  
  METHODS
  Saliva samples from HESN (n = 25) and non-exposed male controls (n = 22) were analyzed by 2D-LC mass spectrometry. An overexpressed innate protein factor was further characterized by immunoblot, and compared with CC-chemokine expression, HIV-neutralizing activity, clinical factors, and sexual behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 337 total proteins, seven were identified as differentially abundant in the HESN group. The five overabundant proteins (Basic salivary proline-rich proteins (bPRP) 2 and 3, Histatin-3, Lysozyme C, and SLPI) have known antimicrobial activity. bPRP2 showed the highest overabundance (>six-fold) in HESN individuals compared with controls (P = 0.009), including multiple isoforms. Salivary bPRP2 correlated with CC-chemokine levels in HESN individuals including RANTES (P = 0.02), MIP-1-alpha (P = 0.01), MIP-1-beta (P = 0.0002), MCP-1 (P = 0.005) and Eotaxin (P = 0.003) but not with frequency of HIV neutralizing activity, oral sexual practices, or viral load of the sexual partner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study identifies salivary bPRP2 as a novel soluble factor elevated in the oral compartment of HIV-exposed MSM.
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. burgener@cc.umanitoba.ca
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Burgener
authors: Kenzie
authors: K
authors: Mogk
authors: Garrett
authors: G
authors: Westmacott
authors: Francis
authors: F
authors: Plummer
authors: Blake
authors: B
authors: Ball
authors: Kristina
authors: K
authors: Broliden
authors: Klara
authors: K
authors: Hasselrot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011392:Proline / Q000378:metabolism*; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D011392:Proline