HIV-specific mucosal and cellular immunity was analyzed in heterosexual couples discordant for HIV status in serum and in HIV-unexposed controls. HIV-specific IgA but not IgG was present in urine and vaginal wash samples from HIV-exposed seronegative individuals (ESN), whereas both IgA and IgG were observed in their HIV-seropositive partners; antibodies were not detected in low-risk controls. Envelope protein (Env) peptide-stimulated interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was detected in 9 out of 16 ESNs, 5 out of 16 HIV-infected patients and 1 out of 50 controls. Env peptide-stimulated PBMCs of ESNs produced more IL-2 and less IL-10 compared with those of HIV-infected individuals; no differences were observed in chemokine production or in CCR5 expression. These data demonstrate that a compartmentalized immune response to pathogens is possible in humans and raise the possibility of protective roles for cell-mediated immunity and mucosal IgA in HIV-seronegative individuals exposed to HIV.

This study shows that AB should not be treated in young women affected by UTI, suggesting it may play a protective role in preventing symptomatic recurrence.

The prevalence and estimated incidence of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome in urological hospital outpatients in Italy are high. The syndrome is closely related to lifestyle, diet, smoking, gastrointestinal or anorectal disease and impaired sexual function.

This study shows that AB treatment is associated with a higher occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, indicating that AB treatment in women with rUTIs is potentially dangerous.

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The presence and activity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific antibodies were analyzed in the sera of 15 sexually exposed seronegative persons who had systemic HIV-specific cell-mediated immunity and IgA-mediated mucosal immunity and in their HIV-infected partners. The HIV-positive subjects had HIV-specific serum IgG and IgA; the seronegative persons had HIV-specific serum IgA in the absence of IgG. Testing of the seronegative persons 1 year after the interruption of at-risk sex showed that no IgG seroconversion had occurred and that HIV-specific IgA serum concentrations had declined. Serum from the HIV-exposed seronegative persons was analyzed for the ability to neutralize primary HIV-1 isolates. Neutralizing activity was detected in 5 of 15 sera and in 2 cases was retained by serum-purified IgA. Thus, the immunologic picture for resistance to HIV infection should include HIV-specific cell-mediated immunity as well as HIV-specific IgA-mediated mucosal and systemic immunity.

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