Open AccessLong-term effects of smallpox vaccination on expression of the HIV-1 co-receptor CCR5 in women
Author(s) -
Kevin Beck,
Bo Langhoff Hønge,
Jens Steen Olesen,
Mikkel Steen Petersen,
Sanne Jespersen,
Christian Wejse,
Z. J. da Silva,
Candida Medina,
David Te,
Bjarne K. Moeller,
Christine Stabell Benn,
Péter Aaby,
Christian Erikstrup
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0207259
Subject(s) - vaccination , smallpox , medicine , smallpox vaccine , immunology , virology , biology , vaccinia , biochemistry , gene , recombinant dna
Background Smallpox vaccinations were stopped globally in 1980. Recent studies have shown that in women, being smallpox vaccinated was associated with a reduced risk of HIV infection compared with not being smallpox vaccinated. At the initial infection, HIV-1 most often uses CCR5 as a co-receptor to infect the T-lymphocytes. We therefore investigated whether smallpox vaccination is associated with a down-regulation of CCR5 on the surface of peripheral T-lymphocytes in healthy women in Guinea-Bissau. Methods We included HIV seronegative women from Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, born before 1974, with and without a smallpox vaccination scar. Blood samples were stabilised in a TransFix buffer solution and stained for flow cytometry according to a T-cell maturation profile. Results Ninety-seven women were included in the study; 52 with a smallpox vaccination scar and 45 without a scar. No association between smallpox vaccination scar and CCR5 expression was found in any T-lymphocyte subtype. Conclusion Among HIV seronegative women, being smallpox vaccinated more than 40 years ago was not associated with a down-regulation of CCR5 receptors on the surface of peripheral T-lymphocytes.