Objectives
HIV seroconversion is known to alter the ratio of CD4 to CD8 T lymphocytes in peripheral blood. The impact of HIV seroconversion on cervical lymphocytes has not been well described. Our objective was to assess changes in cervical immune cell populations in women before and after HIV seroconversion. Our hypothesis was that with HIV seroconversion, changes in T-cell populations in the cervix mirror changes in PBMCs.
Methods
Women aged 18-34 in Harare, Zimbabwe who screened negative for sexually transmitted infections (GC, CT, TV, and HIV) and were confirmed by mass spectrometry to be free of exogenous hormone use and in the follicular phase of menses were enrolled in a study designed to quantify cervical immune cell populations after initiation of contraception. Cervical cytobrush samples were collected and processed within 2 hours at enrollment and 6 months later. Cells were stained to quantify CD4, CD4CCR5, CD4CD69, CD8, CD8CCR5 and CD8CD69 cells using flow cytometric analysis. Differences in cell quantities compared to baseline were evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
Methods
Women aged 18-34 in Harare, Zimbabwe who screened negative for sexually transmitted infections (GC, CT, TV, and HIV) and were confirmed by mass spectrometry to be free of exogenous hormone use and in the follicular phase of menses were enrolled in a study designed to quantify cervical immune cell populations after initiation of contraception. Cervical cytobrush samples were collected and processed within 2 hours at enrollment and 6 months later. Cells were stained to quantify CD4, CD4CCR5, CD4CD69, CD8, CD8CCR5 and CD8CD69 cells using flow cytometric analysis. Differences in cell quantities compared to baseline were evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
Full access? Get Clinical Tree
