Association of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus with Genital Tract Mucosal Immune Factors in HIV-Infected Women

Abstract

Problem: High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is prevalent in HIV-infected women and may be associated with mucosal changes that promote HIV replication.

Method of study: Innate immune molecules, antimicrobial activity, HIV RNA, and HPV DNA genotypes were measured in a cross-sectional study of 128 HIV-infected women categorized into HPV-16 (n = 8), other HR-HPV (n = 41), and non-HR-HPV controls (n = 79).

Results: Compared to controls, HR-HPV groups had higher plasma viral loads (P = 0.004), lower CD4 cells (P = 0.02), more genital tract HIV RNA (P = 0.03), greater number of different HPV types (P < 0.001), higher cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) IL-1α (P = 0.03) and human beta-defensin 2 (HBD2) (P = 0.049), and less anti-HIVB al activity (P = 0.03). HPV-16 remained significantly associated with higher HBD2 (P = 0.03), higher IL-1α (P = 0.009), and lower anti-HIVB aL activity (P = 0.03) compared to controls after adjusting for plasma viral load and CD4 T cell count.

Conclusion: HR-HPV is associated with mucosal changes in HIV-infected women that could adversely impact genital tract health.

Keywords: Cervicovaginal immunity; HIV; defensins; human papillomavirus.