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.
Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard AIDS Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
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Sturm-Ramirez
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Gaye-Diallo
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Eisen
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Mboup
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Kanki
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