Synthesis of IFN-gamma by CD8(+) T cells is preserved in HIV-infected women with HPV-related cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate whether coinfection wit h HIV affects the synthesis of Th1 and Th2 cytokines by peripheral blood T cells of women infected with human papillomavirus (HPV). Methods. Cervical swabs and peripheral blood were obtained from women refer red for colposcopy. HPV DNA by Digene's hybrid capture assay, HIV RNA by Ro che's Amplicor assay, and cytokine synthesis of T-cell subsets by flow cyto metry were assessed. HPV-associated cervical and HIV-associated immune defi ciency diseases were staged using the Bethesda System and the Centers for D isease Control criteria, respectively. Results. Patients with HIV and/or HPV infections had lower percentages of I L-2(+) and higher percentages of IL-10(+) T cells than healthy women. Furth ermore, women with both virus infections (HIV+/HPV+) had significantly fewe r IL-2(+) CD4(+), IFN-gamma(+) CD4(+), and TNF-alpha(+) CD4(+) T cells than women with HPV infection alone (HPV+). Whereas HIV+ and healthy women had similar numbers of IFN-gamma(+) CD8(+) T cells, HPV+ women had significantl y fewer IFN-gamma(+) CD8(+) T cells than healthy women. Conclusion. HIV infection adversely affects the synthesis of Th1 cytokines by CD4(+), but not IFN-gamma synthesis by CD8(+) T cells of women with acti ve HPV infection. The increase in IFN gamma(+) CD8(+) T cells, a phenotype consistent with cytotoxic T lymphocytes, may account for the stable HIV dis ease of the women studied. However, the increase in IFN-gamma(+) CD8(+) T c ells is less likely to be HPV-specific as there was a higher incidence of H PV-related cervical SIL in HIV+/HPV+ women compared with HPV+ women. (C) 19 99 Academic Press.