HIV-1-Specific Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Spot Assay Responses in HIV-1-Exposed Uninfected Partners in Discordant Relationships Compared to Those in Low-Risk Controls
Open Access
- 12 September 2012
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Society for Microbiology in Clinical and Vaccine Immunology
- Vol. 19 (11), 1798-1805
- https://doi.org/10.1128/cvi.00179-12
Abstract
A number of studies of highly exposed HIV-1-seronegative individuals (HESN) have found HIV-1-specific cellular responses. However, there is limited evidence that responses prevent infection or are linked to HIV-1 exposure. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from HESN in HIV-1-discordant relationships and low-risk controls in Nairobi, Kenya. HIV-1-specific responses were detected using gamma interferon (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) assays stimulated by peptide pools spanning the subtype A HIV-1 genome. The HIV-1 incidence in this HESN cohort was 1.5 per 100 person years. Positive ELISpot responses were found in 34 (10%) of 331 HESN and 14 (13%) of 107 low-risk controls (odds ratio [OR] = 0.76;P= 0.476). The median immunodominant response was 18.9 spot-forming units (SFU)/106peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Among HESN, increasing age (OR = 1.24 per 5 years;P= 0.026) and longer cohabitation with the HIV-1-infected partner (OR = 5.88 per 5 years;P= 0.003) were associated with responses. These factors were not associated with responses in controls. Other exposure indicators, including the partner's HIV-1 load (OR = 0.99 per log10copy/ml;P= 0.974) and CD4 count (OR = 1.09 per 100 cells/μl;P= 0.238), were not associated with responses in HESN. HIV-1-specific cellular responses may be less relevant to resistance to infection among HESN who are using risk reduction strategies that decrease their direct viral exposure.Keywords
This publication has 53 references indexed in Scilit:
- Barriers to Antiretroviral Initiation in HIV-1–Discordant CouplesJAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2011
- Breast Milk HIV-1 RNA Levels and Female Sex Are Associated With HIV-1-Specific CD8+ T-Cell Responses in HIV-1-Exposed, Uninfected Infants in KenyaThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2011
- Lack of Detectable HIV-1–Specific CD8+ T Cell Responses in Zambian HIV-1–Exposed Seronegative Partners of HIV-1–Positive IndividualsThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2011
- Optimization of storage and shipment of cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-infected and uninfected individuals for ELISPOT assaysJournal of Immunological Methods, 2010
- Predicting Pregnancy in HIV-1-Discordant CouplesAIDS and Behavior, 2010
- Acyclovir and Transmission of HIV-1 from Persons Infected with HIV-1 and HSV-2The New England Journal of Medicine, 2010
- HIV‐1–Specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes and Breast Milk HIV‐1 TransmissionThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2009
- HIV-1 vaccine-induced immunity in the test-of-concept Step Study: a case–cohort analysisThe Lancet, 2008
- Efficacy assessment of a cell-mediated immunity HIV-1 vaccine (the Step Study): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, test-of-concept trialThe Lancet, 2008
- Defining blood processing parameters for optimal detection of cryopreserved antigen-specific responses for HIV vaccine trialsJournal of Immunological Methods, 2007