Bone marrow plasma cells are a primary source of serum HIV-1-specific antibodies in chronically infected individuals.

ABSTRACT: Several potent and broadly neutralizing Abs to HIV-1 have been isolated recently from peripheral blood B cells of infected individuals, based on prescreening of Ab activity in the serum. However, little is known regarding the cells that make the Abs that circulate in the blood. Accordingly, we investigated the most likely source, the bone marrow, of chronically HIV-1-infected individuals who were not receiving antiretroviral therapy. Increased frequencies of plasma cells, as well as B cell precursors, namely preB-I and preB-II, and decreased frequencies of mature B cells were observed in bone marrow aspirates of these individuals compared with HIV-negative counterparts. Increased frequencies of bone marrow plasma cells are consistent with known hallmarks of HIV-1 infection, namely hypergam

SUBMITTER: Montezuma-Rusca JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4355319 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature