Resistance to HIV-1 infection among African sex workers is associated with global hyporesponsiveness in interleukin 4 production.

Abstract

This paper presents findings of the study on the nature of HIV-1- specific and recall antigen responses in resistant vs. susceptible sex workers compared with healthy (non-sex worker) controls in Nairobi Kenya. Principal findings revealed that: resistant sex workers exhibit significantly enhanced interferon and lower interleukin 4 (IL-4) HIV-1-specific responses independent of changes in type 2 cytokines; polyclonal stimuli fail to reveal alterations in HIV-1-specific type 1 vs. type 2 cytokine responses; and recall antigen-mediated stimulation shows a global deficiency in the capacity of HIV-1-resistant women to mount IL-4 responses. Overall the findings suggest that a key differentiator of resistant subjects from the population in general is the nature of the cytokine response elicited upon HIV exposure. Specifically difference between resistance and susceptibility to HIV-1 infection can be distinguished by reciprocal differences in the intensity of HIV-1-driven interferon-gamma and IL-4 cytokine production which is independent of alterations in IL responses.