title: Human cervicovaginal mucus contains an activity that hinders HIV-1 movement.
abstract: Cervical and vaginal epithelia are primary barriers against HIV type I (HIV-1) entry during male-to-female transmission. Cervical mucus (CM) is produced by the endocervix and forms a layer locally as well as in the vaginal compartment in the form of cervicovaginal mucus (CVM). To study the potential barrier function of each mucus type during HIV-1 transmission, we quantified HIV-1 mobility in CM and CVM ex vivo using fluorescent microscopy. Virions and 200-nm PEGylated beads were digitally tracked and mean-squared displacement was calculated. The mobility of beads increased significantly in CVM compared with CM, consistent with the known decreased mucin concentration of CVM. Unexpectedly, HIV-1 diffusion was significantly hindered in the same CVM samples in which bead diffusion was unhindered. Inhibition of virus transport was envelope-independent. Our results reveal a previously unknown activity in CVM that is capable of impeding HIV-1 mobility to enhance mucosal barrier function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shukair
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Cianci
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stieh
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Baig
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Gioia
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Spongberg
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kauffman
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: McRaven
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lakougna
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Kiser
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hope
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D002460:Cell Line; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology; D055459:Facilitated Diffusion; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology; D014771:Virion / Q000502:physiology