PROINFLAMMATORY CYTOKINE EXPRESSION IN CERVICOVAGINAL SECRETIONS OF NORMAL AND HIV-INFECTED WOMEN

Proinflammatory cytokines may stimulate replication and spread of HIV. To evaluate to what extent the female genital tract represents a sour ce of these cytokines, we determined TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 con centrations in paired serum and cervicovaginal washings from 45 HIV-ne gative and 50 HIV-positive women, and then we looked for the relevant mRNAs in cervicovaginal secretions by RT-PCR. Cytokines were detected by ELISA in cervicovaginal fluid from most healthy women, Cervicovagin al washing levels of TNF-alpha were increased above the control value +2 SD in 11/50 HIV-positive women, those of IL-1 beta in 13/50, and th ose of IL-6 in 14/50. The prevalences of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 increase and their levels in cervicovaginal washings were significant ly higher in the 20 patients at stage IV than in the 30 patients at ea rlier stages of the disease, In HIV-infected patients, serum and cervi covaginal washing levels correlated positively for TNF-alpha and IL-6, but not for IL-1 beta. Nine of 15 cytokine mRNAs determinations were positive in HIV-infected women versus 1 of 15 in controls (P < 0.01). These findings could be relevant to bidirectional heterosexual transmi ssion of HIV. (C) 1995 Academic Press Limited.