Acute sexually transmitted infections increase human immunodeficiency virus type 1 plasma viremia, increase plasma type 2 cytokines, and decrease CD4 cell counts.
In Kenya, the median incubation time to AIDS in seroconverting sex workers is 4 years; this incubation time is specific to female sex workers. We studied the influence of acute sexually transmitted infections (STIs) on several immunologic parameters in 32 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-positive and 10 HIV-1-negative women sex workers who were followed for 1-5 months. Plasma cytokines, soluble cytokine receptors, CD4 and CD8 T cell counts, and HIV-1 plasma viremia were quantitated before, during, and after episodes of STI. Increases in interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-10, soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and viremia and a decline in CD4(+) T cell counts occurred during gonococcal cervicitis and returned to baseline after treatment. Increases in viremia correlated with increased IL-4 and decreased IL-6 concentrations. Similar changes were seen among women with acute pelvic inflammatory disease. Acute bacterial STI resulted in increased HIV-1 viremia. This may be mediated through increased inflammatory cytokines or through modulation of immune responses that control HIV-1 viremia.
Anzala
A O
AO
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Simonsen
J N
JN
Kimani
J
J
Ball
T B
TB
Nagelkerke
N J
NJ
Rutherford
J
J
Ngugi
E N
EN
Bwayo
J J
JJ
Plummer
F A
FA
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D007630:Kenya; D008875:Middle Aged; D011477:Sex Work; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D014766:Viremia / Q000150:complications*
D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha