CD4 cell and CD8 cell-mediated resistance to HIV-1 infection in exposed uninfected intravascular drug users in Vietnam.

Objective: To identify mechanisms of resistance to HIV-1 infection in exposed uninfected individuals.

Design: We examined in-vitro cell susceptibility to HIV-1 infection in highly exposed Vietnamese intravascular drug users (IDU) who, despite a history of more than 10 years of drug use and a high prevalence of other blood-borne viral infections, remain apparently HIV uninfected.

Methods: Forty-five exposed uninfected IDU and 50 blood donors were included in the study.