Higher levels of activation markers and chemokine receptors on T lymphocytes in the cervix than peripheral blood of normal healthy women.
Heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) is the predominant mode of infection world-wide. To better understand sexual transmission of HIV-1 in women we have analysed virus co-receptor and cellular activation marker expression on T lymphocyte subsets from the cervical epithelium and have made comparisons with peripheral blood T cells. Intraepithelial cervical T lymphocytes were obtained with a cytobrush, immunolabelled and analysed by flow cytometry. Activation markers (CD69, CD25 and HLA-DR) were found to be more highly expressed on cervical than on blood T lymphocytes. These higher levels of activation on cervical T lymphocyte subsets could facilitate HIV-1 infection. CXCR4 was expressed at marginally higher levels than CCR5 on T cells from the cervical epithelium and peripheral blood. Thus, the preferential transmission of macrophage tropic strains of HIV-1 following sexual contact cannot be explained solely on the expression of chemokine co-receptors by T lymphocyte subsets.
Prakash
M
M
Department of Immunology, Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine (ICSTM) at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London, UK.
Kapembwa
M S
MS
Gotch
F
F
Patterson
S
S
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D015415:Biomarkers; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D019713:Receptors, CCR5; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D000099192:CD69 Antigens