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Cherenack EM, Broedlow CA, Klatt NR. The vaginal microbiome and HIV transmission dynamics. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2024; 19:234-240. [PMID: 38935063 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Among women, having a nonoptimal, highly diverse vaginal microbiome dominated by bacteria other than optimal Lactobacillus species such as L. crispatus or L. jensenii predicts HIV transmission. Reducing HIV acquisition among women requires a better understanding of the mechanisms through which the vaginal microbiome impacts HIV transmission dynamics and how to more effectively treat and intervene. Technological advancements are improving the ability of researchers to fully characterize interacting host-bacteria mechanisms. Consequently, the purpose of this review was to summarize the most innovative research on the vaginal microbiome and its role in HIV transmission in the past year. RECENT FINDINGS Studies combining multiomics, experimental, and translational approaches highlight the associations of a nonoptimal microbiome with maladaptive alterations in immune cell functioning, vaginal metabolites, host cell transcription, mucosal immunity, and epithelial barrier integrity. While there are multiple mechanisms proposed to increase HIV acquisition risk, there are virtually zero acceptable and effective treatments to improve the vaginal microbiome and immunity. SUMMARY Women-centered solutions to modify the vaginal microbiome and bacterial metabolites should continue to be explored as a mechanism to reduce HIV acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Cherenack
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Courtney A Broedlow
- Division of Surgical Outcomes and Precision Medicine Research, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Nichole R Klatt
- Division of Surgical Outcomes and Precision Medicine Research, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Schwecht I, Nazli A, Gill B, Kaushic C. Lactic acid enhances vaginal epithelial barrier integrity and ameliorates inflammatory effects of dysbiotic short chain fatty acids and HIV-1. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20065. [PMID: 37973920 PMCID: PMC10654711 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47172-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The vaginal microenvironment is key in mediating susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections. A polymicrobial environment with reduced Lactobacilllus spp. is characteristic of vaginal dysbiosis, associated with increased production of several short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), vaginal inflammation and an increased risk of HIV-1 acquisition. In contrast, a eubiotic vaginal microbiome (VMB), dominated by Lactobacillus spp. correlates with increased production of lactic acid (LA), an acidic milieu and protection against HIV-1. Vaginal metabolites, specifically LA and SCFAs including butyric, succinic and acetic acids are associated with modulation of HIV-1 risk. We assessed the impact of combined and individual SCFAs and LA on vaginal epithelial cells (VK2) grown in air-liquid interface cultures. Treatment of VK2 cells with eubiotic SCFA + LA mixture showed increased epithelial barrier integrity, reduced FITC dextran leakage and enhanced expression of cell-cell adhesion proteins. Treatment with dysbiotic SCFA + LA mixture diminished epithelial barrier integrity, increased NFκB activation and inflammatory mediators: TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and RANTES. LA was found to be the primary contributor of the beneficial effects. Eubiotic SCFA + LA mixture ameliorated HIV-1 mediated barrier disruption and HIV-1 leakage, whereas dysbiotic SCFA + LA treatment exacerbated HIV-1 effects. These findings indicate a key role for LA in future prophylactic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Schwecht
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Center, Michael G. DeGroote Center for Learning and Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Aisha Nazli
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Center, Michael G. DeGroote Center for Learning and Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Biban Gill
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Center, Michael G. DeGroote Center for Learning and Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Charu Kaushic
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
- McMaster Immunology Research Center, Michael G. DeGroote Center for Learning and Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
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Moreno de Lara L, Werner A, Borchers A, Carrillo-Salinas FJ, Marmol W, Parthasarathy S, Iyer V, Vogell A, Illanes D, Abadía-Molina AC, Ochsenbauer C, Wira CR, Rodriguez-Garcia M. Aging dysregulates neutrophil extracellular trap formation in response to HIV in blood and genital tissues. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1256182. [PMID: 38035114 PMCID: PMC10684664 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1256182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Women acquire HIV through sexual transmission, with increasing incidence in women >50 years old. Identifying protective mechanisms in the female genital tract (FGT) is important to prevent HIV-acquisition in women as they age. Human genital and blood neutrophils inactivate HIV by releasing neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), an innate protective mechanism against HIV-infection. However, how NET formation is triggered by HIV in different tissues and whether this mechanism is affected by aging remain unknown. We demonstrate that the mechanisms that trigger NET release in response to HIV are different in blood and genital tissues, and that NET release decreases with aging. In blood neutrophils, HIV stimulation independently activated calcium pathways and endosomal TLR8, but aging reduced calcium responses, resulting in delayed NET release. In contrast, calcium responses were absent in genital neutrophils and NET release was triggered preferentially through TLR8 activation, but aging impaired this pathway. HIV induced NET formation through non-lytic pathways in blood and FGT neutrophils, except for a small subset of NETs that incorporated annexin V and lactoferrin predominantly in blood, suggesting proinflammatory and lytic NET release. Our findings demonstrate that blood neutrophils cannot model genital neutrophil responses which has important implications to understanding protection against HIV acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Moreno de Lara
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
- Instituto de Biopatología y Medicina Regenerativa, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Alexandra Werner
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Anna Borchers
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Wendelin Marmol
- Program in Genetics, Molecular, and Cellular Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Vidya Iyer
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Alison Vogell
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Diego Illanes
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ana C. Abadía-Molina
- Instituto de Biopatología y Medicina Regenerativa, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular 3 e Inmunología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Christina Ochsenbauer
- Department of Medicine and UAB Center for AIDS Research, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Charles R. Wira
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, United States
| | - Marta Rodriguez-Garcia
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
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Nijhawan P, Carraro A, Vita S, Del Borgo C, Tortellini E, Guardiani M, Zingaropoli MA, Mengoni F, Petrozza V, Di Troia L, Marcucci I, Kertusha B, Scerpa MC, Turriziani O, Vullo V, Ciardi MR, Mastroianni CM, Marocco R, Lichtner M. Systemic, Mucosal Immune Activation and Psycho-Sexual Health in ART-Suppressed Women Living with HIV: Evaluating Biomarkers and Environmental Stimuli. Viruses 2023; 15:v15040960. [PMID: 37112940 PMCID: PMC10144999 DOI: 10.3390/v15040960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Gender medicine is now an approach that can no longer be neglected and must be considered in scientific research. We investigated the systemic and mucosal immune response in a population of women living with HIV (WLWH) who were receiving successful ART and the sexual and psychological repercussions of HIV infection on the women's health. As control group, healthy women (HW) matched for age and sex distribution, without any therapy, were included. In summary, our study highlighted the persistence of immune-inflammatory activation in our population, despite virological suppression and a normal CD4 cell count. We found a hyperactivation of the systemic monocyte and an increase in inflammatory cytokine concentrations at the systemic level. The analysis carried out showed a significantly higher risk of HPV coinfection in WLWH compared to HW. Furthermore, our data revealed that WLWH have a profile compatible with sexual dysfunction and generalized anxiety disorders. Our study underlines that patients living with HIV should be evaluated by multidisciplinary teams. These findings also support the idea that more and different immunological markers, in addition to those already used in clinical practice, are needed. Further studies should be carried out to clarify which of these could represent future therapy targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parni Nijhawan
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Carraro
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Santa Maria (SM) Goretti Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Serena Vita
- INMI IRCCS Lazzaro Spallanzani, via Portuense, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Cosmo Del Borgo
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Santa Maria (SM) Goretti Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Eeva Tortellini
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Mariasilvia Guardiani
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Fabio Mengoni
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Petrozza
- UOC of Pathology, Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Bio-Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome Polo Pontino, I.C.O.T, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Luciana Di Troia
- Department of Andrology and Pathophysiology of Reproduction, Santa Maria (SM) Goretti Hospital, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Immacolata Marcucci
- Department of Andrology and Pathophysiology of Reproduction, Santa Maria (SM) Goretti Hospital, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Blerta Kertusha
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Santa Maria (SM) Goretti Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Scerpa
- Hematology Unit, Santa Maria (SM) Goretti Hospital, AUSL Latina, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Ombretta Turriziani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Vullo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Ciardi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Raffaella Marocco
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Santa Maria (SM) Goretti Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Miriam Lichtner
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Santa Maria (SM) Goretti Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sense Organs, NESMOS, Sapienza University of Rome, 00189 Rome, Italy
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Carrillo-Salinas FJ, Parthasarathy S, Moreno de Lara L, Borchers A, Ochsenbauer C, Panda A, Rodriguez-Garcia M. Short-Chain Fatty Acids Impair Neutrophil Antiviral Function in an Age-Dependent Manner. Cells 2022; 11:2515. [PMID: 36010593 PMCID: PMC9406757 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Half of the people living with HIV are women. Younger women remain disproportionally affected in endemic areas, but infection rates in older women are rising worldwide. The vaginal microbiome influences genital inflammation and HIV infection risk. Multiple factors, including age, induce vaginal microbial alterations, characterized by high microbial diversity that generate high concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), known to modulate neutrophil function. However, how SCFAs may modulate innate anti-HIV protection by neutrophils is unknown. To investigate SCFA-mediated alterations of neutrophil function, blood neutrophils from younger and older women were treated with SCFAs (acetate, butyrate and propionate) at concentrations within the range reported during bacterial vaginosis, and phenotype, migration and anti-HIV responses were evaluated. SCFA induced phenotypical changes preferentially in neutrophils from older women. Butyrate decreased CD66b and increased CD16 and CD62L expression, indicating low activation and prolonged survival, while propionate increased CD54 and CXCR4 expression, indicating a mature aged phenotype. Furthermore, acetate and butyrate significantly inhibited neutrophil migration in vitro and specifically reduced α-defensin release in older women, molecules with anti-HIV activity. Following HIV stimulation, SCFA treatment delayed NET release and dampened chemokine secretion compared to untreated neutrophils in younger and older women. Our results demonstrate that SCFAs can impair neutrophil-mediated anti-HIV responses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Siddharth Parthasarathy
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Immunology Program, Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Laura Moreno de Lara
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Immunology Unit, Biomedical Research Centre (CIBM), University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Anna Borchers
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Christina Ochsenbauer
- Department of Medicine, Hem/Onc & CFAR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Alexander Panda
- Tufts Medical Center/Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care (PCCM), Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Marta Rodriguez-Garcia
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Immunology Program, Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA 02111, USA
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Zayas JP, Mamede JI. HIV Infection and Spread between Th17 Cells. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020404. [PMID: 35215997 PMCID: PMC8874668 DOI: 10.3390/v14020404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV mainly targets CD4+ T cells, from which Th17 cells represent a major cell type, permissive, and are capable of supporting intracellular replication at mucosal sites. Th17 cells possess well-described dual roles, while being central to maintaining gut integrity, these may induce inflammation and contribute to autoimmune disorders; however, Th17 cells’ antiviral function in HIV infection is not completely understood. Th17 cells are star players to HIV-1 pathogenesis and a potential target to prevent or decrease HIV transmission. HIV-1 can be spread among permissive cells via direct cell-to-cell and/or cell-free infection. The debate on which mode of transmission is more efficient is still ongoing without a concrete conclusion yet. Most assessments of virus transmission analyzing either cell-to-cell or cell-free modes use in vitro systems; however, the actual interactions and conditions in vivo are not fully understood. The fact that infected breast milk, semen, and vaginal secretions contain a mix of both cell-free viral particles and infected cells presents an argument for the probability of HIV taking advantage of both modes of transmission to spread. Here, we review important insights and recent findings about the role of Th17 cells during HIV pathogenesis in mucosal surfaces, and the mechanisms of HIV-1 infection spread among T cells in tissues.
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Gokavi J, Sadawarte S, Shelke A, Kulkarni-Kale U, Thakar M, Saxena V. Inhibition of miR-155 Promotes TGF-β Mediated Suppression of HIV Release in the Cervical Epithelial Cells. Viruses 2021; 13:v13112266. [PMID: 34835072 PMCID: PMC8624372 DOI: 10.3390/v13112266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
TGF-β has been shown to play a differential role in either restricting or aiding HIV infection in different cell types, however its role in the cervical cells is hitherto undefined. Among females, more than 80% of infections occur through heterosexual contact where cervicovaginal mucosa plays a critical role, however the early events during the establishment of infection at female genital mucosa are poorly understood. We earlier showed that increased TGF-β level has been associated with cervical viral shedding in the HIV infected women, however a causal relationship could not be examined. Therefore, here we first established an in vitro cell-associated model of HIV infection in the cervical epithelial cells (ME-180) and demonstrated that TGF-β plays an important role as a negative regulator of HIV release in the infected cervical epithelial cells. Inhibition of miR-155 upregulated TGF-β signaling and mRNA expression of host restriction factors such as APOBEC-3G, IFI-16 and IFITM-3, while decreased the HIV release in ME-180 cells. To conclude, this is the first study to decipher the complex interplay between TGF-β, miR-155 and HIV release in the cervical epithelial cells. Collectively, our data suggest the plausible role of TGF-β in promoting HIV latency in cervical epithelial cells which needs further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyotsna Gokavi
- Division of Immunology and Serology, Indian Council of Medical Research-National AIDS Research Institute, MIDC, Bhosari, Pune 411026, India; (J.G.); (M.T.)
| | - Sharwari Sadawarte
- Bioinformatics Centre, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, India; (S.S.); (A.S.); or (U.K.-K.)
| | - Anant Shelke
- Bioinformatics Centre, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, India; (S.S.); (A.S.); or (U.K.-K.)
| | - Urmila Kulkarni-Kale
- Bioinformatics Centre, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, India; (S.S.); (A.S.); or (U.K.-K.)
| | - Madhuri Thakar
- Division of Immunology and Serology, Indian Council of Medical Research-National AIDS Research Institute, MIDC, Bhosari, Pune 411026, India; (J.G.); (M.T.)
| | - Vandana Saxena
- Division of Immunology and Serology, Indian Council of Medical Research-National AIDS Research Institute, MIDC, Bhosari, Pune 411026, India; (J.G.); (M.T.)
- Correspondence:
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Sobia P, Archary D. Preventive HIV Vaccines-Leveraging on Lessons from the Past to Pave the Way Forward. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9091001. [PMID: 34579238 PMCID: PMC8472969 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9091001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Almost four decades on, since the 1980’s, with hundreds of HIV vaccine candidates tested in both non-human primates and humans, and several HIV vaccines trials later, an efficacious HIV vaccine continues to evade us. The enormous worldwide genetic diversity of HIV, combined with HIV’s inherent recombination and high mutation rates, has hampered the development of an effective vaccine. Despite the advent of antiretrovirals as pre-exposure prophylaxis and preventative treatment, which have shown to be effective, HIV infections continue to proliferate, highlighting the great need for a vaccine. Here, we provide a brief history for the HIV vaccine field, with the most recent disappointments and advancements. We also provide an update on current passive immunity trials, testing proof of the concept of the most clinically advanced broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies for HIV prevention. Finally, we include mucosal immunity, the importance of vaccine-elicited immune responses and the challenges thereof in the most vulnerable environment–the female genital tract and the rectal surfaces of the gastrointestinal tract for heterosexual and men who have sex with men transmissions, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parveen Sobia
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa;
| | - Derseree Archary
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa;
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +27-(0)-31-655-0540
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Blondin-Ladrie L, Aranguren M, Doyon-Laliberté K, Poudrier J, Roger M. The Importance of Regulation in Natural Immunity to HIV. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9030271. [PMID: 33803543 PMCID: PMC8003059 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9030271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Worldwide, most Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections are acquired through heterosexual intercourse, and in sub-Saharan Africa, 59% of new HIV infections affect women. Vaccines and microbicides hold promise for preventing the acquisition of HIV. To this end, the study of HIV highly exposed seronegative (HESN) female commercial sex workers (CSWs), who constitute a model of natural immunity to HIV, provides an exceptional opportunity to determine important clues for the development of preventive strategies. Studies using both female genital tract (FGT) and peripheral blood samples of HESN CSWs, have allowed identifying distinct features, notably low-inflammatory patterns associated with resistance to infection. How this seemingly regulated response is achieved at the initial site of HIV infection remains unknown. One hypothesis is that populations presenting regulatory profiles contribute to the orchestration of potent anti-viral and low-inflammatory responses at the initial site of HIV transmission. Here, we view to update our knowledge regarding this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Blondin-Ladrie
- Axe Immunopathologie, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC H2X0A9, Canada; (L.B.-L.); (M.A.); (K.D.-L.)
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie de l‘Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C3J7, Canada
| | - Matheus Aranguren
- Axe Immunopathologie, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC H2X0A9, Canada; (L.B.-L.); (M.A.); (K.D.-L.)
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie de l‘Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C3J7, Canada
| | - Kim Doyon-Laliberté
- Axe Immunopathologie, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC H2X0A9, Canada; (L.B.-L.); (M.A.); (K.D.-L.)
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie de l‘Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C3J7, Canada
| | - Johanne Poudrier
- Axe Immunopathologie, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC H2X0A9, Canada; (L.B.-L.); (M.A.); (K.D.-L.)
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie de l‘Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C3J7, Canada
- Correspondence: (J.P.); (M.R.)
| | - Michel Roger
- Axe Immunopathologie, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC H2X0A9, Canada; (L.B.-L.); (M.A.); (K.D.-L.)
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie de l‘Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C3J7, Canada
- Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Montréal, QC H2P1E2, Canada
- Correspondence: (J.P.); (M.R.)
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