Resistance to HIV-1 infection among African sex workers is associated with global hyporesponsiveness in interleukin 4 production

We previously conducted epidemiologic studies identifying a cohort of prostitutes who exhibit profound resistance to HIV-1 infection despite intense, chronic sexual exposure. Many demonstrate CTL responses to HIV sub(IIIB) env, gag, and pol gene products and interleukin 2 (IL-2) production to HIV peptides, suggesting that immunological factors are involved in this type of HIV-1 resistance. Here, we hypothesized that differences in virus-specific cytokine responses may underlie resistance vs. susceptibility to HIV infection among Nairobi sex workers and therefore we examined the nature of HIV-1-specific and recall antigen responses in resistant vs. susceptible populations compared with healthy (non-sex worker) controls.