title: Proinflammatory cytokine expression in cervicovaginal secretions of normal and HIV-infected women.
abstract: Proinflammatory cytokines may stimulate replication and spread of HIV. To evaluate to what extent the female genital tract represents a source of these cytokines, we determined TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 concentrations in paired serum and cervicovaginal washings from 45 HIV-negative and 50 HIV-positive women, and then we looked for the relevant mRNAs in cervicovaginal secretions by RT-PCR. Cytokines were detected by ELISA in cervicovaginal fluid from most healthy women. Cervicovaginal washing levels of TNF-alpha were increased above the control value +2 SD in 11/50 HIV-positive women, those of IL-1 beta in 13/50, and those of IL-6 in 14/50. The prevalences of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 increase and their levels in cervicovaginal washings were significantly higher in the 20 patients at stage IV than in the 30 patients at earlier stages of the disease. In HIV-infected patients, serum and cervicovaginal washing levels correlated positively for TNF-alpha and IL-6, but not for IL-1 beta. Nine of 15 cytokine mRNAs determinations were positive in HIV-infected women versus 1 of 15 in controls (P < 0.01). These findings could be relevant to bidirectional heterosexual transmission of HIV.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Immunologie Microbienne, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bélec
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gherardi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Payan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Prazuck
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Malkin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tévi-Bénissan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pillot
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012016:Reference Values; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha