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. 2018 Nov 15;13(11):e0207259.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207259. eCollection 2018.

Long-term effects of smallpox vaccination on expression of the HIV-1 co-receptor CCR5 in women

K B Beck  1   2 , B L Hønge  1   2   3 , J S Olesen  1   3 , M S Petersen  2 , S Jespersen  1   3 , C Wejse  1   4 , Z J da Silva  5 , C Medina  5 , D D S Té  5 , B K Moeller  2 , C S Benn  1   6 , P Aaby  1   6 , C Erikstrup  2
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Long-term effects of smallpox vaccination on expression of the HIV-1 co-receptor CCR5 in women

K B Beck et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Flowchart of participants included in the study.
*In parenthesis number of women with and without scar from smallpox vaccination in the given group. No SV = no smallpox vaccination, SV = smallpox vaccination.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Plots of gating of CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocytes from flow cytometry.
A) Singlets, B) lymphocytes, C) T-lymphocytes, D) CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocytes, E) Effector Memory 1 CD4, F) Central Memory and Naive CD4, G) Effector Memory 2 and Effector Memory 3, H) 4th Antigen Experienced, I) Naive CD8 and 1st Antigen Experienced, J) 2nd and 3rd Antigen Experienced.
Fig 3
Fig 3. CCR5 positive cell fraction on CD4 subsets in women with and without a smallpox vaccination scar.
Grey colour is smallpox vaccination and black colour is no smallpox vaccination. CCR5 positive cell fraction of CD4 subsets in the two groups. Mean with SD. Central Memory (CM), Effector Memory 1 (EM1), Effector Memory 2 (EM2), Effector Memory 3 (EM3).
Fig 4
Fig 4. CCR5 positive cell fraction on CD8 subsets in smallpox vaccination group and no-smallpox vaccination group.
Grey colour is smallpox vaccination and black colour is no smallpox vaccination. CCR5 positive cell fraction of CD8 subsets in the two groups. Mean with SD. 1. Antigen Experienced (1AE), 2. Antigen Experienced (2AE), 3. Antigen Experienced (3AE), 4. Antigen Experienced (4AE).
Fig 5
Fig 5. Plots of CD4 T-lymphocytes from flow cytometry.
A) CD4 T-lymphocytes gated by CD45RA and CCR5, B) CD4 T-lymphocytes gated by FSC-H and CCR5, C) Naïve CD4 T-lymphocytes gated by FSC-H and CCR5, D) Effector Memory 2 CD4 T-lymphocytes gated by FSC-H and CCR5.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Plots of CD8 T-lymphocytes from flow cytometry.
A) CD8 T-lymphocytes gated by CD45RA and CCR5, B) CD8 T-lymphocytes gated by FSC-H and CCR5, C) Naïve CD8 T-lymphocytes gated by FSC-H and CCR5, D)2. Antigen Experienced CD8 T-lymphocytes gated by FSC-H and CCR5.
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