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Title
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Low-level T cell activation in HIV-exposed seronegative subjects : influence of gender and condom use
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Author
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Abstract
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| 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. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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The journal of infectious diseases. - Chicago, Ill.
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Publication
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Chicago, Ill.
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2010
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ISSN
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0022-1899
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Volume/pages
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201
:6
(2010)
, p. 835-842
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ISI
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000274664900006
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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