Race and ethnicity impact on the maximum proliferative response in peripheral blood lymphocytes from HIV-seropositive individuals

The effects of race and ethnicity on immunological function have not been fully studied in patients infected with HIV-1. To study such differences, 54 patients on virally suppressive highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with CD4 counts >200 cells/microL had their peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) evaluated for response to recall antigen. Significant differences were found in the maximum responses for PBL from black individuals compared with those from white individuals, and the differences were highly significant when responses for African-Americans were compared with those for white-Hispanics. These findings support work delineating ethnicity and race as significant variables to be taken into account when looking at vaccination strategies and responsiveness to therapeutic pharmacological interventions.