title: Blood B Lymphocyte Stimulator (BLyS)/BAFF levels may reflect natural immunity to HIV in highly exposed uninfected Beninese Commercial Sex Workers.
abstract: We have previously shown that excess B lymphocyte Stimulator (BLyS)/BAFF in plasma and on surface of blood dendritic cells (DC) of HIV-infected progressors coincides with B-cell dysregulations and increased frequencies of "precursor" innate marginal zone (MZ)-like B-cells. In contrast, both blood BLyS levels and frequencies of this population remained unaltered in HIV elite-controllers. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that control of BLyS and innate B-cell status could be associated with natural immunity against HIV infection. Therefore, we assessed blood BLyS levels and B-cell status in HIV highly-exposed commercial sex workers (CSWs) from Benin. We found blood BLyS levels of HIV-uninfected CSWs were lower than those observed in both HIV-infected CSW and HIV-uninfected non-CSW groups. Furthermore, levels of BLyS expression on blood T-cells and monocytes were lower in HIV-uninfected CSWs when compared to HIV-infected CSWs, but higher than those observed for HIV-uninfected non-CSWs. Concomitantly, HIV-infected CSWs presented a dysregulated blood B-cell compartment, characterized by increased total IgG1, increased frequencies of populations presenting immature and/or innate profiles and a higher ratio of IgG(+)/IgA(+) plasmablasts. In contrast, relatively low levels of BLyS in the blood of HIV-uninfected CSWs coincided with a rather preserved B-cell compartment.
authors: Laboratoire d'immunogénétique, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Canada.|Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Sabourin-Poirier
authors: Laboratoire d'immunogénétique, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Canada.|Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
authors: Lyvia
authors: L
authors: Fourcade
authors: Laboratoire d'immunogénétique, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Canada.|Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
authors: Josiane
authors: J
authors: Chagnon-Choquet
authors: Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
authors: Annie-Claude
authors: AC
authors: Labbé
authors: Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Québec, Canada.|Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Alary
authors: Dispensaire des IST, Cotonou, Benin.
authors: Fernand
authors: F
authors: Guédou
authors: Laboratoire d'immunogénétique, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Canada.|Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
authors: Johanne
authors: J
authors: Poudrier
authors: Laboratoire d'immunogénétique, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Canada.|Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Roger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001541:Benin; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D060386:Sex Workers; D019562:Viral Load / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human