Publication
Title
Low-level T cell activation in HIV-exposed seronegative subjects : influence of gender and condom use
Author
Abstract
Immune activation has been suggested to increase susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission, while at the same time it could be deemed essential for mounting an effective antiviral immune response. In this study, we compared levels of T cell activation between exposed seronegative (ESN) partners in HIV-1 discordant couples and HIV-unexposed control subjects in Dakar, Senegal. ESN subjects showed lower levels of CD38 expression on CD4+ T cells than did control subjects. However, this was found to be associated with concurrent differences in the use of condoms: ESN subjects reported a higher degree of condom use than did control subjects, which correlated inversely with CD38 expression. In addition, we observed markedly higher levels of T cell activation in women compared with men, irrespective of sexual behavior. These findings question the relevance of low-level CD4+ T cell activation in resistance to HIV-1 infection and underscore the need to take gender and sexual behavior characteristics of high-risk populations into account when analyzing correlates of protective immunity.
Language
English
Source (journal)
The journal of infectious diseases. - Chicago, Ill.
Publication
Chicago, Ill. : 2010
ISSN
0022-1899
DOI
10.1086/651000
Volume/pages
201 :6 (2010) , p. 835-842
ISI
000274664900006
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 03.06.2010
Last edited 22.03.2023
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