Innate activation of MDC and NK cells in high-risk HIV-1-exposed seronegative IV-drug users who share needles when compared with low-risk nonsharing IV-drug user controls.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Previous studies have described increased innate immune activation in HIV-1-exposed seronegative intravenous drug users (HESN-IDU), but have not addressed the independent role of injected drugs and/or repeated injections in driving immune activation.

Methods

In this study, we investigated innate [natural killer (NK) cells and dendritic cells] and adaptive (HIV-specific antibody and CD8 T cell) immune parameters among a high-risk cohort of needle-sharing HESN-IDU subjects and compared them with low-risk nonsharing IDU subjects (NS-IDU) and non-drug-user controls.

Results

We observed that HIV-specific antibody and CD8 T-cell responses were not detected in HESN-IDU subjects, yet innate immune cell activation was found to be significantly increased on NK cells

SUBMITTER: Tomescu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4329050 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature