Gonococcal cervicitis is associated with reduced systemic CD8+ T cell responses in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected and exposed, uninfected sex workers.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae cervicitis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 frequently coinfect core transmitter populations, such as female sex workers. Gonococcal cervicitis is associated with increased viral shedding and plasma viremia in HIV-1-infected women and increased HIV-1 susceptibility in uninfected women. We studied the influence of gonococcal cervicitis on CD8(+) interferon (IFN)-gamma responses to HIV-1 and cytomegalovirus (CMV) epitopes in HIV-1-infected and in highly-exposed, persistently seronegative (HEPS) female sex workers. In HIV-1-infected women, gonococcal cervicitis was associated with reduced IFN-gamma responses in bulk CD8(+) lymphocyte populations, and intracellular cytokine staining, combined with class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-peptide tetramer studies, demonstrated reduced IFN-gamma production by HIV-1 epitope-specific CD8(+) lymphocytes. In HEPS sex workers, cervicitis was associated with the transient loss of systemic HIV-1-specific CD8(+) responses and with reduced function of CMV-specific CD8(+) lymphocytes. Impaired function of virus-specific CD8(+) lymphocytes may partly explain the deleterious effects of gonococcal cervicitis on HIV-1 immune control and susceptibility.
Kaul
Rupert
R
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya. rupertkaul@hotmail.com
Rowland-Jones
Sarah L
SL
Gillespie
Geraldine
G
Kimani
Joshua
J
Dong
Tao
T
Kiama
Peter
P
Simonsen
J Neil
JN
Bwayo
Job J
JJ
McMichael
Andrew J
AJ
Plummer
Francis A
FA
D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000209:etiology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000150:complications*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D007630:Kenya; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D011477:Sex Work; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology
D016207:Cytokines; D000939:Epitopes; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007371:Interferon-gamma