High levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta in bacterial vaginosis may increase susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) was identified recently as a cofactor that promotes sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study was done to determine if interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha could be measured consistently in cervical secretions and if high levels of these cytokines were associated with BV. Secretions were obtained from 209 study subjects; most samples had detectable levels of TNF-alpha (84.2%) and IL-1beta (79.8%). BV was detected in 53 (27.0%) of 196 women. High cytokine levels were significantly associated with BV (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 4.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.69-10.30), oral contraceptive use (AOR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.04-7.48), and high leukocyte counts on vaginal smear (AOR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.03-1.36). Since these cytokines could up-regulate local HIV replication through activation of the long terminal repeat promoter region, the association of BV with high levels of IL-1beta or TNF-alpha may partly explain the mechanism by which this risk factor enhances HIV transmission.
Sturm-Ramirez
K
K
Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard AIDS Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Gaye-Diallo
A
A
Eisen
G
G
Mboup
S
S
Kanki
P J
PJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000276:immunology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012675:Senegal; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*
D007375:Interleukin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha