title: HIV-1 target cells in foreskins of African men with varying histories of sexually transmitted infections.
abstract: Numerous epidemiologic studies have found significant associations between lack of circumcision and HIV-1 acquisition in men. To our knowledge, this is the first study of human foreskin tissue that examines biologic mechanisms that increase susceptibility of uncircumcised African men to HIV-1. Foreskin specimens from 20 men with and 19 men with no history of sexually transmitted infections were examined for HIV-1 target cells. Most Langerhans cells were found in the epithelium; most CD4+ T cells and macrophages were in the submucosa. There were no differences in HIV-1 target cells between men with and those without history of sexually transmitted infections. However Langerhans cells and macrophages were more abundant in the group with a history of infection. The densities and positions of HIV-1 target cells in the foreskin tissue of these Kenyan men indicate that the inner mucosal surface of the human foreskin contains cells that make it highly susceptible to HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Illinois, Chicago 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Betty A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Donoval
authors.forename: Alan L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Landay
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moses
authors.forename: Kawango
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Agot
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Ndinya-Achola
authors.forename: Edith A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Nyagaya
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: MacLean
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bailey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000821:virology; D002944:Circumcision, Male; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007630:Kenya; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000821:virology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000166:cytology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD