No differences in cellular immune responses between asymptomatic HIV type 1- and type 2-infected Gambian patients.

Abstract

Fewer people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 2 progress to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, compared with those infected with HIV-1. To understand the immune mechanisms leading to slow progression in HIV-2 infection, cell-mediated immune responses were compared between the 2 infections in asymptomatic subjects with a CD4 cell count > or =20%. Interferon- gamma release from T lymphocytes and the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T lymphocytes were measured by ELISPOT and 51Cr release assays. The level of responses and the proportion of responders were similar in the 2 infections, despite a 20-fold difference in their geometric mean plasma virus loads. The proliferation of CD4+ T helper cells, which was evaluated by thymidine incorporation, was not different between the 2 infections. Contrary to widely held views, our results suggest that nonprogression in HIV-2 infection may not be due to more vigorous immune responses.

• Authors: Assan Jaye, Ramu Sarge-Njie, Maarten Schim van der Loeff, Jim Todd, Abraham Alabi, Shehu Sabally, Tumani Corrah, Hilton Whittle
• Journal: The Journal of infectious diseases (J Infect Dis) Vol. 189 Issue 3 Pg. 498-505 (Feb 01 2004) ISSN: 0022-1899 [Print] United States
• PMID: 14745708 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Interferon-gamma

Topics

• Adult
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
• Female
• Gambia
• HIV Infections (blood, immunology, virology)
• HIV-1 (immunology)
• HIV-2 (immunology)
• Humans
• Immunity, Cellular
• Interferon-gamma (analysis)
• Male
• T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Viral Load