Gonococcal cervicitis is associated with reduced systemic CD8+ T cell responses in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected and exposed, uninfected sex workers

J Infect Dis. 2002 May 15;185(10):1525-9. doi: 10.1086/340214. Epub 2002 Apr 30.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cytokines / analysis
  • Cytomegalovirus / immunology
  • Disease Susceptibility / etiology
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gonorrhea / complications*
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV-1* / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / analysis
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / analysis
  • Kenya
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae*
  • Occupational Diseases / etiology*
  • Occupational Diseases / immunology
  • Sex Work*
  • Uterine Cervicitis / complications*
  • Uterine Cervicitis / microbiology

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Epitopes
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Interferon-gamma