title: Detection of HIV-1-specific T-cell immune responses in highly HIV-exposed uninfected individuals by in-vitro dendritic cell co-culture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although virus-specific responses are rarely detected by conventional approaches, we report here the detection of T-cell responses in HIV-exposed seronegative (HESN) patients by two distinct assays.
  
  
  METHODS
  HIV-specific T-cell responses were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunospot in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HESN patients after a 48-h co-culture with boosted dendritic cells. Additionally, a boosted flow cytometry approach was used to capture antiviral T-cell responses. Host genetic factors and T-cell activation were also analyzed to assess their implication on HIV exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 45 HESN individuals tested, up to 11 (24.4%) showed at least one response to peptide pools covering HIV Gag and Nef. A positive correlation was observed between the intensity (P = 0.0022) and magnitude (P = 0.0174) of the response detected in the HESN, and the viral load of the HIV-positive partner. Moreover, the result from the boosted flow and cytomix analyses showed a dominant Th1-like response pattern against HIV antigens, especially in CD8 T-cell populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined use of our boosted dendritic cell technique with a boosted flow cytometric approach allows us both to detect specific HIV-positive responses in a higher percentage of HESN patients and to define specific effector function profiles. This study contributes to a better understanding of resistance to HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: aInstitut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer-HIVACAT, Barcelona bUniversitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya (UVic-UCC), Vic cInfectious Diseases Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona dIrsi-Caixa-HIVACAT, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona eInstitució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Guardo
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Riol
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Maleno
authors.forename: Manel E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bargalló
authors.forename: Agathe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: León
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Climent
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gatell
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brander
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012747:Sexual Partners; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015488:HIV Antigens