Primary HIV-1 infection sets the stage for important B lymphocyte dysfunctions

To investigate the effects of primary HIV-1 infection (PHI) and of two antiretroviral therapies [highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) or reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTI)] on activation, differentiation and survival of B cells.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of primary HIV-1 infection (PHI) and of two antiretroviral therapies [highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) or reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTI)] on activation, differentiation and survival of B cells. Methods: Naive and memory B cells from three groups [PHI (31), chronic infection (26) and healthy donors (12)] were studied for surface expression of Fas, LAIR-1, CD70, intracellular expression of Bcl-2 and spontaneous apoptosis. Fluorescence activated cell sorting (IgD+IgM+CD19+CD27+) and short-term cell culture to analyse induction of CD25 on B cells were performed in five patients with PHI. Patients with PHI were sampled at baseline, and after 1 and 6 months of therapy. Results were analysed by parametric and non-parametric tests and by mathematical modelling. Results: In PHI, B cells were significantly decreased; naive and memory B lymphocytes showed a high degree of activation, manifested by hypergammaglobulinaemia, altered expressi...