title: Impact of the menstrual cycle on immunologic markers in HIV-infected Taiwanese women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study tested the relationship between cellular immunity and the menstrual cycle in Taiwanese HIV-infected and normal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  From October 1997 to October 2001, 21 HIV-seropositive women and 30 controls were enrolled in this study. Blood was sampled for hormone profile (estradiol and progesterone) and immunophenotyping with flow cytometry during the follicular and luteal phases. Immunophenotyping included total blood cell count, lymphocyte count, CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, and their activation markers, including CD25, CD69, HLA-DR, and CD38.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of CD8+ T cells increased during the follicular phase and activating antigens (HLADR and CD38) were elevated on CD8+ T cells of HIV-seropositive women. All these alterations seemed unrelated to the menstrual cycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CD8+ T cells were increased and activated in women with HIV infection but these alterations were not affected by the menstrual cycle. Therefore, sex hormones seem not to affect the course of HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College and Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuang-Han
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Ming-Yih
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Mei-Jou
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chien-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Hong-Nerng
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1