Breast Milk CD4+ T Cells Express High Levels of C Chemokine Receptor 5 and CXC Chemokine Receptor 4 and Are Preserved in HIV-Infected Mothers Receiving …
AP Kourtis, CC Ibegbu, R Theiler, YX Xu… - The Journal of …, 2007 - academic.oup.com
The Journal of infectious diseases, 2007•academic.oup.com
Background. Transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to the infant through
breast-feeding is a major problem worldwide; however, the biological circumstances of such
transmission remain unclear. Little characterization of breast milk CD4+ T lymphocytes has
been done so far. Methods. We performed a detailed immunophenotypic analysis of T
lymphocytes in the breast milk, compared with the blood, of HIV-uninfected (n= 9) and HIV-
infected (n= 10) women receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy, by use of …
breast-feeding is a major problem worldwide; however, the biological circumstances of such
transmission remain unclear. Little characterization of breast milk CD4+ T lymphocytes has
been done so far. Methods. We performed a detailed immunophenotypic analysis of T
lymphocytes in the breast milk, compared with the blood, of HIV-uninfected (n= 9) and HIV-
infected (n= 10) women receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy, by use of …
Abstract
Background. Transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to the infant through breast-feeding is a major problem worldwide; however, the biological circumstances of such transmission remain unclear. Little characterization of breast milk CD4+ T lymphocytes has been done so far.
Methods. We performed a detailed immunophenotypic analysis of T lymphocytes in the breast milk, compared with the blood, of HIV-uninfected (n = 9) and HIV-infected (n = 10) women receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy, by use of multiparameter flow cytometry. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric comparisons were performed using SAS software (version 9.1; SAS Institute).
Results. In uninfected women, 44%–78% of breast milk CD4+ T cells expressed the C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5), whereas 26%–73% of cells coexpressed CCR5 and CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). In contrast, only 7%–20% of peripheral blood CD4+ T cells expressed CCR5 and 1%–20% coexpressed CCR5 and CXCR4. The level of CCR5 expression in CD4+ T cells in breast milk was higher than in blood. In HIV-infected women, the high frequency of CD4+CCR5+ T cells in breast milk was preserved.
Conclusions. A majority of CD4+ T cells in breast milk express high levels of CCR5 and CXCR4. Unlike other mucosal immune sites, in which CD4+CCR5+ T cells are rapidly eliminated by HIV, these cells are preserved in breast milk during HIV infection.
Oxford University Press