TY - JOUR
T1 - Bacterial vaginosis in HIV-infected women induces reversible alterations in the cervical immune environment
AU - Rebbapragada, Anuradha
AU - Howe, Kathryn
AU - Wachihi, Charles
AU - Pettengell, Christopher
AU - Sunderji, Sherzana
AU - Huibner, Sanja
AU - Ball, T. Blake
AU - Plummer, Francis A.
AU - Jaoko, Walter
AU - Kaul, Rupert
PY - 2008/12/1
Y1 - 2008/12/1
N2 - Background: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been associated with increased HIV cervicovaginal shedding. We hypothesized that this might relate to BV-associated increases in mucosal activated CD4+ T cells, which could enhance local HIV replication. Methods: Vaginal flora, cytokine/chemokine levels, and mucosal immune cell populations collected by cervical cytobrush were analyzed in 15 HIV-infected Kenyan female sex workers, before and after BV therapy with oral metronidazole. Results: Therapy reduced the Nugent score in all but 1 participant, and BV elimination was associated with reduced genital levels of interleukin 1β(IL1β), interleukin 8 (IL-8), and Regulated Upon Activation Normal T-cell Expressed and Secreted (RANTES). In addition, BV elimination reduced the total number of cervical CD4+ T cells, including those expressing the HIV coreceptor CCR5 and the activation marker CD69. Conclusions: BV induces significant and reversible alterations in cervical immune cell populations and local inflammatory cytokines that would be expected to enhance local HIV replication.
AB - Background: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been associated with increased HIV cervicovaginal shedding. We hypothesized that this might relate to BV-associated increases in mucosal activated CD4+ T cells, which could enhance local HIV replication. Methods: Vaginal flora, cytokine/chemokine levels, and mucosal immune cell populations collected by cervical cytobrush were analyzed in 15 HIV-infected Kenyan female sex workers, before and after BV therapy with oral metronidazole. Results: Therapy reduced the Nugent score in all but 1 participant, and BV elimination was associated with reduced genital levels of interleukin 1β(IL1β), interleukin 8 (IL-8), and Regulated Upon Activation Normal T-cell Expressed and Secreted (RANTES). In addition, BV elimination reduced the total number of cervical CD4+ T cells, including those expressing the HIV coreceptor CCR5 and the activation marker CD69. Conclusions: BV induces significant and reversible alterations in cervical immune cell populations and local inflammatory cytokines that would be expected to enhance local HIV replication.
KW - Altered vaginal flora
KW - Bacterial vaginosis
KW - Genital tract
KW - HIV
KW - Inflammation
KW - Mucosal immunology
KW - Transmission
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U2 - 10.1097/QAI.0b013e318189a7ca
DO - 10.1097/QAI.0b013e318189a7ca
M3 - Article
C2 - 18989228
AN - SCOPUS:62749093768
VL - 49
SP - 520
EP - 522
JO - Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)
JF - Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)
SN - 1525-4135
IS - 5
ER -