Circulating memory B-cell subpopulations are affected differently by HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy

Abstract

The depletion of IgM memory B cells in untreated HIV patients with a CD4 T-cell count below 300 cells/microl might be a risk factor for pneumococcal infection. The depletion of switched memory B cells is a complication of HIV infection irrespective of ART and might contribute to impaired IgG antibody responses. Memory B-cell subpopulations might predict the risk of pneumococcal sepsis more accurately than the CD4 T-cell count or pneumococcal antibody levels.