title: Loss of Intra-Epithelial Endocervical Gamma Delta (GD) 1 T Cells in HIV-Infected Women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Human gamma delta (GD) T cells play a well-documented role in epithelial barrier surveillance and protection. Two subsets of GD T cells, defined by the use of either the Vdelta2 (GD2) or Vdelta1 (GD1) TCR, predominate. We hypothesized that endocervical GD T cells play important role in lower genital tract anti-HIV immune responses.
  
  
  METHODS
  HIV-infected (n = 18) and HIV-uninfected (n = 19) pre-menopausal women participating in the WIHS cohort were recruited. Frequency and phenotype of GD T cells were determined in endocervical cytobrush samples and peripheral blood by multicolor flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found depletion of GD2 cells in the blood of HIV-infected women as well as significant decrease in the frequency of endocervical GD1 cells compared to uninfected women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report for the first time, the GD1 cells are a predominant endocervical T-cell subset that is significantly decreased in HIV-infected women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Natasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Strbo
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Alcaide
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bolivar
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Eckhard R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Podack
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fischl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000276:immunology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014766:Viremia
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Biomarker; HIV; female reproductive tract; gamma delta T cells