Evaluation of immunologic markers in cervicovaginal fluid of HIV-infected and uninfected women: Implications for the immunologic response to HIV in the female genital tract

We analyzed 21 cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) specimens from 19 women participating in the Women's Interagency HIV Study to characterize levels of antibody, cytokine, and complement and to determine associations between these levels and stage of the menstrual cycle, HIV status, and the presence of concurrent genital infection and genital dysplasia. Sixteen samples were collected from HIV-infected women and five from high-risk HIV-seronegative women. CVL fluid was assayed for levels of IgG, secretory IgA (S-IgA), interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-10, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IL-1β, interferon γ (IFN-γ), C3, C1q, and C4. Women with HIV were more likely to have cervicovaginal dysplasia (9/16 vs. 0/5; p = 0.027) but were not more likely to have concurrent vaginal infection (10/16 vs. 2/5; p = 0.38). Antibody, cytokine, and complement were detectable in all samples, although not all samples had measurable IL-10, C3, or C4. HIV-infected women demonstrated a trend toward higher levels of IFN-γ than did uninfected women (p = 0.098); no differences were noted in other parameters. HIV-infected women with vaginal infections had significantly higher CVL levels of IgG (p = 0.023) and IFN-γ (p = 0.02) than did HIV-infected women without genital infections. HIV-infected women with cervicovaginal dysplasia were found to have higher levels of IL-1β (p = 0.045) and IFN-γ (p = 0.039) than those without. Analysis of the HIV-infected cohort by CD4 cell count revealed higher levels of IgG and IFN-γ in CVL from women with lower CD4 cell counts, although these differences were not statistically significant. Higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines in CVL fluid of women with genital infection or cervicovaginal dysplasia may affect local HIV replication and may influence the risk of acquisition or transmission of HIV for women with these underlying conditions.