CHEMOKINES ARE PRESENT IN THE GENITAL-TRACT OF HIV-SEROPOSITIVE AND HIV-SERONEGATIVE WOMEN - CORRELATION WITH OTHER IMMUNE MEDIATORS

In this cross-sectional study, 53 cervicovaginal lavage samples (CVL) from 41 women were analyzed for the chemokines interleukin-8 (IL-8), r elated-on-activation normal T-expressed and secreted (RANTES) factor, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha) by enzyme-li nked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IL-8 was detected in 81% of CVL, whe reas RANTES was detected in 32%, and MIP-1 alpha: in 15% of the CVL. T he mean levels of IL-8 RANTES,and MIP-1 alpha: in positive samples wer e 396 pg/ml, 102 pg/ml, and 34 pg/ml, respectively. IL-8 levels correl ated positively with IL-1 beta and IgG in a subset of CVL samples. RAN TES levels correlated positively with complement protein levels. Addit ionally, the levels of RANTES, but not MIP-1 alpha, reached levels rep orted in previous studies of the effects of beta chemokines to inhibit HSV replication. These results suggest that measuring chemokines in C VL specimens can provide important information regarding immune respon ses in the genital tract.