Journal
JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY
Volume 83, Issue 1-2, Pages 196-200Publisher
ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2009.07.005
Keywords
HIV-1; Mucosal immunity; Macrophages; IgA
Categories
Funding
- NCRR NIH HHS [RR-20136] Funding Source: Medline
- NIAID NIH HHS [P01 AI083027, AI-74438, R21 AI087178, R01 AI074438, AI083027, AI-83027, AI074438, R01 AI074438-01A1, P01 AI083027-01] Funding Source: Medline
- NIDDK NIH HHS [R01 DK054495, DK-64400, R01 DK054495-02, DK-54495, R24 DK064400, DK-47322, R01 DK047322-10, R01 DK047322] Funding Source: Medline
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The male and female genital tracts are protected by a local immune system that displays features distinguishing them from other mucosal sites. In contrast to the intestinal tract, where locally produced IgA is the dominant Ig, secretions of the male and female genital tract contain predominantly IgG of both local and systemic origin. Genital tract tissues also lack mucosal lymphoepithelial inductive sites analogous to intestinal Peyer's patches; consequently, local immunization or infections with sexually transmitted pathogens induce low immune responses. Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection must be primarily considered as a mucosal disease with extensive involvement of the systemic immune compartment. Although the majority of infections is acquired through the genital mucosa,a high rate of virus replication and profound CD4(+) T cell depletion occurs in the intestinal mucosa and other mucosal tissues shortly after infection. Evaluation of HIV-specific antibodies in sera and external secretions, including vaginal washes and semen, unexpectedly revealed a selective lack of IgA responses. Moreover, specific antibody-secreting cells in peripheral blood were of the IgG isotype, even in mucosally infected individuals. Whether humoral responses to previously or newly encountered antigens are compromised in HIV-1-infected persons is under current investigation. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available