title: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of the uterine cervix.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been detected in cervical secretions from HIV-infected women. We report the isolation of HIV from four cervical biopsy specimens. Cervicitis was shown by immunohistochemical staining in cervical biopsy specimens from four HIV-seropositive women; cervicitis was not found in cervical biopsy specimens from four HIV-seronegative women. We found HIV antigens in monocyte-macrophages and endothelial cells within the submucosa of three of these cervices by specific immunohistochemical staining. Small numbers of HIV-infected cells resembling lymphocytes also were found in the cervical mucosa. The virus was not shown by culture or immunohistochemistry in cervical biopsy specimens from the four HIV-seronegative women. These findings suggest that HIV enters cervical secretions from selected infected cell populations within the cervical tissue. The HIV-infected cells in cervical tissue may be involved in transmission of HIV by heterosexual contact and to neonates born to HIV-infected women.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Pomerantz
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: de la Monte
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Donegan
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Rota
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Craven
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hirsch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000382:microbiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000382:microbiology; D014776:Virus Cultivation