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Mutations in the Bruton agammaglobulinemia tyrosine kinase (BTK) gene are responsible for X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA). Unfolded or misfolded proteins can trigger stress pathways in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), known as unfolded protein response (UPR). The aim was to clarify the involvement of UPR in XLA pathophysiology. By reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, we evaluated the expression of BTK and 12 UPR-related genes in eight patients. Moreover, we assessed the BTK protein expression and pattern in the patients' monocytes by flow cytometry and fluorescence immunocytochemistry. We found a reduced BTK expression in patients with stop codon mutations (P < 0.02). However, missense mutations did not affect BTK expression. Flow cytometry showed a reduction of BTK in patients which was corroborated by an absent or nonfunctional protein synthesis revealed by immunocytochemistry. In contrast with the other UPR-related genes, X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) was markedly upregulated in the patients (P < 0.01), suggesting Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation since BTK directly interacts with TLRs as a negative regulator and XBP1 can be activated in direct response to TLR ligation. Different BTK mutations can be identified by the BTK expression. Inasmuch as UPR-related genes were downregulated or unaltered in patients, we speculate the involvement of the TLRs-XBP1 axis in the XLA pathophysiology. Such data could be the basis for further studies of this novel pathomechanism concerning XLA.

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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cell-mediated immune response to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination in uninfected, HIV-1-exposed infants, comparing it with unexposed children. DESIGN: It is designed as a cross-sectional study. METHODS: BCG-specific lymphoproliferation and T-cell subsets (CD4(+), CD8(+) and TCR γδ(+)) by flow cytometry and interleukin-10, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentration by ELISA were analyzed in HIV-exposed and unexposed infants. Whole blood lymphocyte immunophenotyping and blood counts were performed in exposed children. Nonparametric tests were used (P < 0.05). RESULTS: Given the ontogeny of the immune system, exposed infants were separated into three groups according to age: exposed 1 (E1, aged 6.1-8.8 months), E2 (aged 9.1-17.1 months) and E3 (aged 18.1-26.3 months). Unexposed infants (UE group) and E1 were matched for age. Cell proliferation was not different among the three exposed groups, neither for BCG nor for phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated cultures. Furthermore, BCG-stimulated lymphoproliferation was reduced in the E1 group in comparison with the UE group. T-lymphocyte subpopulations also showed differences, with the youngest HIV-exposed groups (E1 and E2) showing a predominant proliferation of CD4(+) T cells in cultures with BCG, whereas E3 and UE groups had a robust γδ(+) T-cell expansion. There was lower IFN-γ concentration in the samples from E1 group in comparison with all of the other groups. The unexposed infants showed higher TNF-α concentration in cultures with BCG and PHA in comparison with E1 group. CONCLUSION: BCG-specific T-cell proliferation was reduced in HIV-exposed uninfected infants and IFN-γ concentration was lower in younger exposed infants, showing a delay in immune system maturation of HIV-exposed infants.

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RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Children born to HIV+ mothers are exposed intra-utero to several drugs and cytokines that can modify the developing immune system, and influence the newborn's immune response to infections and vaccines. We analyzed the relation between the distribution of cord blood lymphocyte subsets and cytokine profile in term newborns of HIV+ mothers using HAART during pregnancy and compared them to normal newborns. METHODS: In a prospective, controlled study, 36 mother-child pairs from HIV+ mothers and 15 HIV-uninfected mothers were studied. Hematological features and cytokine profiles of mothers at 35 weeks of pregnancy were examined. Maternal and cord lymphocyte subsets as well as B-cell maturation in cord blood were analyzed by flow cytometry. The non-stimulated, as well as BCG- and PHA-stimulated production of IL2, IL4, IL7, IL10, IL12, IFN-γ and TNF-alpha in mononuclear cell cultures from mothers and infants were quantified using ELISA. RESULTS: After one year follow-up none of the exposed infants became seropositive for HIV. An increase in B lymphocytes, especially the CD19/CD5+ ones, was observed in cord blood of HIV-exposed newborns. Children of HIV+ hard drug using mothers had also an increase of immature B-cells. Cord blood mononuclear cells of HIV-exposed newborns produced less IL-4 and IL-7 and more IL-10 and IFN-γ in culture than those of uninfected mothers. Cytokine values in supernatants were similar in infants and their mothers except for IFN-γ and TNF-alpha that were higher in HIV+ mothers, especially in drug abusing ones. Cord blood CD19/CD5+ lymphocytes showed a positive correlation with cord IL-7 and IL-10. A higher maternal age and smoking was associated with a decrease of cord blood CD4+ cells. CONCLUSIONS: in uninfected infants born to HIV+ women, several immunological abnormalities were found, related to the residual maternal immune changes induced by the HIV infection and those associated with antiretroviral treatment. Maternal smoking was associated to changes in cord CD3/CD4 lymphocytes and maternal hard drug abuse was associated with more pronounced changes in the cord B cell line.

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