University Immunology Research Paper Analysis and Critique

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of a research paper focusing on the role of homeostatic chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 in HIV-infected patients. The study, conducted by Damas et al. (2009), investigates the inflammatory properties of these chemokines and their impact on individuals with ongoing viral replication. The report begins by outlining the rationale behind the study, which stems from the need to understand the effects of chemokines in HIV infection, considering previous conflicting research findings. The study aimed to examine the expression of CCL19 and CCL21 in mononuclear cells and their ability to promote inflammation in HIV patients before and during antiretroviral therapy. The study involved 29 HIV-infected patients and 21 healthy controls. The results revealed that HIV-infected patients with high viral loads exhibited increased proportions of CD8+CCR7-CD45RA-T cells, and the study established that dysregulated CCR7, CCL19, and CCL21 contribute to inappropriate inflammation in HIV contraction. The report highlights how this study builds upon previous research by expanding on the role of CCL19 and CCL21 in HIV infection, particularly regarding their effects on lymphocytes and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Finally, the report provides a critical reflection on the study, acknowledging its strengths in terms of its organized presentation and consistent summary while suggesting improvements such as involving more participants and experienced researchers.

Running head: IMMUNOLOGY 1
Immunology
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliations

IMMUNOLOGY 2
Immunology
Question 1
It is important to note that research plays a critical role in understanding various issues or
concepts in the medical field. It helps the health care professionals to find out, for example, the
effects of diseases or drugs on human body so that they can establish ways to curb adverse
impacts. The authors of have conducted the study to ascertain or affirm that Homeostatic
chemokines CCL21 as well as CCL19 promote or enhance inflammation in human immune-
deficiency virus-infected patients with continuing viral replication (Moser et al., 2014). The
authors state that Chemokines are well-known as regulatory molecules in the development of
lymphoid tissues, lymphocyte homing, and leucocyte maturation, and some chemokines might be
protective in human immune-deficiency virus in infected people due to their ability or capability
to block Human Immune Virus entry into macrophages and T cells via the HIV co-receptor
(Damas et al., 2009). Since chemokines have potent inflammatory properties which can have
toxic impacts in HIV-infected people, the authors opted to establish the effects of chemokines.
The authors were also influenced by the past contradicting studies, with some suggesting or
establishing that chemokines can promote inflammatory responses whereas others stating that
chemokines lead to obstinate HIV infection in secondary lymphoid tissues through the promotion
of viral replications in activated T-cells. Additionally, the authors opted to establish the link
between chemokines and HIV replication.
Question 2
The aim of the study was to examine the role of CCL19 and CCL21 in human immune-
deficiency virus (HIV) infections through the promotion of inflammation. It aimed at examining
the expression of both CCL21 and CCL19 in bone marrow mono-nuclear cells as well as mono-

IMMUNOLOGY 3
nuclear cells from peripheral blood mono-nuclear in HIV-infected patient before as well as
during extremely active anti-retroviral therapies (Allen et al., 2017). It also aimed at examining
the ability of CCL21 and CCL19 to promote or enhance inflammatory response in HIV patients.
Question 3
The study involved 29 HIV-infected patients who were recruited in a cross-sectional
study where none of the patients had received highly active anti-retroviral therapy. Notably, 14
HIV-infected patients or participants were categorized as asymptomatic. Blood samples were
collected from 21 sex-and-age matched healthy control for comparison. A sub-group of 9
patients from the cross-sectional study was also trailed during highly active anti-retroviral
therapy with samples taken before and four and twenty-six weeks after the therapy’s initiation.
Examination of CCR7 expressions and the impacts of CCL21 and CCL19 blood samples were
collected from nine HIV-infected patients afore the highly active anti-retroviral therapy
initiation.
Question 4
The study established that HIV infected patients having high viral load were had a
characteristic of increased proportions of CD8+CCR7-CD45RA-T Cells. The study found that
CCR7 expressing monocyte can result in a potential of inflammatory upon activation.
Additionally, the study established that dysregulated CCR7, CCL19, and CCL21 system plays a
pathogenic role in HIV contraction or infection through the contribution of an inappropriate
inflammation. The results were analyzed using SSPS, chi-square, and t-test. Rationally, the
critical review of the authors’ methodology based on hypothesis testing and the overall research
design demonstrates a well-organized, appropriate presentation of ideas and results.

IMMUNOLOGY 4
Question 5
This study is an improvement of the previous studies. It extends the findings of enhanced
levels of serum of CCL21 and CCL19 among HIV infected individuals in linkage to disorder
severity in untreated HIV infections by indicating that highly active anti-retroviral therapy-naïve
HIV infected individuals are characterized by decreased stimulated and increased spontaneous
secretion of CCL19 in mono-nuclear cells (Damas et al., 2009). The past researches on CCR7,
CCL21, and CCL19 in HIV infection focused on their roles in lymphocyte. However, this study
goes ahead to report on impaired CCR7 regulation on plasmacytoids DC among the HIV infected
adolescents as well as children. It also shows untreated HIV infected individuals with immune-
deficiency are characterized by spontaneous secretion of CCL19 due to reverse of highly active
anti-retroviral therapy, which had not been established by the previous studies.
Question 6
Generally, critical and creative analysis and evaluation of the article background indicate
a well-organized as well as logical presentation, which meets the authors’ intended aim or
purpose. The study draws its strength from a coherent and consistent summary, matching up the
introduction as well as conclusion. It demonstrates strong convincing power in the findings,
discussion, integral text, and interpretation (Mertens, 2014). Moreover, the stated aims of the
article are rational and consistent. Reasonably, the critical review of the authors’ methodology
based on hypothesis testing and the overall research design also demonstrates a well-organized,
appropriate presentation of ideas and results. Additionally, the results are duly interpreted to
support the aims. I can improve the research by involving more participants and experienced
researchers or professionals in the medical industry.

IMMUNOLOGY 5
References
Allen SJ, Crown SE, & Handel TM. (2017) Chemokine: receptor structure, interactions, and
antagonism. Annu Rev Immunol; 25:787–820.
Damas et al. (2009) Homeostatic chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 promote inflammation in
human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with ongoing viral replication. Clin.
Exp. Immunol. 157: 400-407
Mertens, D.M., (2014). ''Research and evaluation in education and psychology: Integrating
diversity with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods''. Oxford: Oxford University.
Sage Publications.pp.123-136.
Moser B, Wolf M, & Walz A., (2014) Chemokines: multiple levels of leukocyte migration
control. Trends Immunol; 25:75–84.