HIV-1 specific mucosal immunity in semen and cervix of infected individuals. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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HIV-1 specific mucosal immunity in semen and cervix of infected individuals.

Conf Adv AIDS Vaccine Dev. 1997 May 4-7;:42. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/97927028
Musey L; McElrath MJ; University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center,; Seattle, WA. Fax: (206) 667-4411.

Abstract: HIV-1 is predominantly transmitted through the mucosal route. The presence of HIV-specific mucosal T cells may contribute to the selection and the level of transmitted viruses. We evaluated the presence and the function of HIV-1 specific CTL in the semen of 19 HIV+ men and in the cervix of 19 HIV+ women. Mucosal T cells were antigen-specifically stimulated and tested against autologous B-LCL target cells infected with HIV-1 or expressing HIV-1 gene products in a conventional chromium release assay. HIV-specific CTL were detected in the semen of 11/19 (58%) of men and 12/19 (63%) of women. Responses were directed against HIV-Env 9/19, 45% of women; 7/18, 39% of men), Gag (6/19, 32% of women; 7/18, 39% of men) and Pol (4/19, 21% of women; 5/17, 29% of men). Mucosal CTL were more often detected in patients with CD4+ counts above 400 and in men with seminal plasma HIV-1 RNA less than 10,000 copies/ml. CTL responses were mediated by both CD4+ and CD8+ effector cells. Comparative analysis thus far reveals a narrower CTL repertoire in the mucosa than in the systemic compartment. These results indicate that HIV-specific mucosal CTL may participate in the control of viral load and selection of viral isolates at the site of the infection.
Keywords: *Cervix Uteri/IMMUNOLOGY *HIV Infections/IMMUNOLOGY *HIV-1/IMMUNOLOGY *Immunity, Mucosal *Semen/IMMUNOLOGYKWDcervixuteri/immunologyKWDhivinfections/immunologyKWDhiv-1/immunologyKWDimmunity,mucosalKWDsemen/immunology
971130
M97B1193

Copyright © 1997 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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