LYMPHOCYTE SHEDDING FROM GENITAL-TRACT OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-INFECTED WOMEN - IMMUNOPHENOTYPIC AND CLINICAL CORRELATES

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to describe the lymphocyte subpopulations i n genital tract samples from human immunodeficiency virus-infected wom en and the clinical correlates associated with lymphocyte shedding. ST UDY DESIGN: Genital tract samples of women infected with human immunod eficiency virus-1 were processed for immunophenotyping analysis with a FACScan flow cytometer. Immunologic and virologic characteristics of women with and without lymphocyte shedding were compared with t test, Wilcoxon rank test, or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The rate of genit al lymphocyte shedding among human immunodeficiency virus-1-infected w omen was 39%. Genital shedding was not related to age, race, use of an tiretroviral therapy, or positive human immunodeficiency virus-1 cultu re. A negative rank correlation (r = -0.71, p = 0.047) between CD3(+)C D4(+) counts in peripheral blood and genital tract was observed. The m ajority of the lymphocyte cells were CD3(+)CD8(+), and >80% of the CD3 (+)CD4(+) cells were memory cells. CONCLUSION: The immune profile of t he genital tract lymphocytes is suggestive of a local mucosal immune r esponse.