title: Mucosal immune response to Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection in HIV positive women.
abstract: Mucosal immunity plays a central role in the control of genital human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. HIV infection is associated with higher risks of HPV-induced neoplasias. Prevalence, incidence and evolution of genital HPV lesions are correlated with the level of immunodepression. Several changes of the local immune response in the genital tract of HIV infected women have been demonstrated. The influence of HIV on the production of some immunoregulatory cytokines appears of particular interest. The shift from the helper T cells type 1 (Th1) to the helper T cells type 2 (Th2) immune response, which determines the downregulation of the cell-mediated immunity, may explain the frequent loss of immunologic control of HPV and its oncological complications
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Clinical Science Institute, L. Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, via GB Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy. alberto.agarossi@tin.it
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarossi
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Casolati
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valieri
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrazzi
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maffeis
authors.forename: Daria
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trabattoni
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clerici
mesh_terms: D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000276:immunology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*