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HIV-specific mucosal and cellular immunity in HIV-seronegative partners of HIV-seropositive individuals

Nature Medicine volume 3, pages 1250–1257 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

HIV-specific mucosal and cellular immunity was analyzed in heterosexual couples discordant for HIV status in serum and in HIV-unexposed controls. HIV-specific IgA but not IgG was present in urine and vaginal wash samples from HIV-exposed seronegative individuals (ESN), whereas both IgA and IgG were observed in their HIV-seropositive partners; antibodies were not detected in low-risk controls. Envelope protein (Env) peptide-stimulated interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was detected in 9 out of 16 ESNs, 5 out of 16 HIV-infected patients and 1 out of 50 controls. Env peptide-stimulated PBMCs of ESNs produced more IL-2 and less IL-10 compared with those of HIV-infected individuals; no differences were observed in chemokine production or in CCR5 expression. These data demonstrate that a compartmentalized immune response to pathogens is possible in humans and raise the possibility of protective roles for cell-mediated immunity and mucosal IgA in HIV-seronegative individuals exposed to HIV.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centra M.S.T./U.O. Malattie Infettive, Ospedale S.M. Annunziata, A.S.L. 10, 50100, Florence, Italy

    Sandra Mazzoli, Claudio Blé, Francesca Meacci, Alessanda Salvi, Francesca Semplici, Nadia Tofani & Francesco Mazzotta

  2. Cattedm di Immunologia, Padiglione L.I.T.A., Universita degli Studi di Milano, 20157, Milan, Italy

    Daria Trabaironi, Sergio Lo Caputo, Stefania Ruzzante, Maria Luisa Fusi, Mara Biasin, Maria Luisa Villa & Mario Clerici

  3. I Divisione di Malattie Infettive, OspedaleL. Sacco, Via G.B. Grassi, 74, 20157, Milan, Italy

    Stefania Piconi

  4. Istituto di Chimica degli Ormoni, C.N.R., Via M. Bianco, 9, 20131, Milano, Italy

    Renato Longhi

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Mazzoli, S., Trabaironi, D., Caputo, S. et al. HIV-specific mucosal and cellular immunity in HIV-seronegative partners of HIV-seropositive individuals. Nat Med 3, 1250–1257 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm1197-1250

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