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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
Isolation, Transfection, and Culture of Primary Human Monocytes
Published on: December 16, 2019
The mucosae-associated epithelial chemokine (MEC/CCL28) modulates immunity in HIV infection
Eleonora Castelletti1, Sergio Lo Caputo, Louise Kuhn
1Department of Preclinical Sciences, Laboratorio Interdisciplinare Technologie Avanzate Vialba, University of Milano, Milano, Italy.
Background:
CCL28 (MEC) binds to CCR3 and CCR10 and recruits IgA-secreting plasma cells (IgA-ASC) in the mucosal lamina propria (MLP). Mucosal HIV-specific IgA are detected in HIV-infection and exposure. The CCL28 circuit was analyzed in HIV-infected and-exposed individuals and in HIV-unexposed controls; the effect of CCL28 administration on gastrointestinal MLP IgA-ASC was verified in a mouse model.
Methodology/Findings:
CCL28 was augmented in breast milk (BM) plasma and saliva of HIV-infected and -exposed individuals; CCR3+ and CCR10+ B lymphocytes were increased in these same individuals. Additionally: 1) CCL28 concentration in BM was associated with longer survival in HIV vertically-infected children; and 2) gastro-intestinal mucosal IgA-ASC were significantly increased in VSV-immunized mice receiving CCL28.
Conclusions:
CCL28 mediates mucosal immunity in HIV exposure and infection. CCL28-including constructs should be considered in mucosal vaccines to prevent HIV infection of the gastro-intestinal MLP via modulation of IgA-ASC.
