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ABSTRACT: Background
Semen is the main vector for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission from men to women. We investigated the influence of cytokines in semen on local HIV burden and activated T cells.Methods
Blood and semen were collected from 42 HIV-negative and 38 HIV-positive men. Concentrations of 20 cytokines were measured by Luminex, and frequencies of activated T cells were measured by flow cytometry.Results
Semen contained higher concentrations of proinflammatory (monocyte chemotactic protein-1, interleukin [IL]-8, IL-6, Fractalkine, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1?, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor) and adaptive cytokines (IL-7 and IL-15) and higher frequencies of activated T cells compared to blood. Plasma IL-2, eotaxin, MIP-1?, and IL-15 and semen eotaxin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) concentrations were associated with T-cell activation. Cytokines in semen were highly coregulated in HIV-negative men; however, this network was disrupted during HIV infection. Several cytokines in semen correlated with HIV shedding (G-CSF, tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-?], interferon-gamma [IFN-?], IL-10).Conclusion
Higher levels of inflammation and T-cell activation were observed in semen compared with blood. Seminal G-CSF, which influences neutrophil survival, T-cell function, and dendritic cell activation, was associated with T-cell activation and HIV shedding and may be an important target for reducing HIV shedding or risk.
SUBMITTER: Olivier AJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3969547 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Olivier Abraham J AJ Masson Lindi L Ronacher Katharina K Walzl Gerhard G Coetzee David D Lewis David A DA Williamson Anna-Lise AL Passmore Jo-Ann S JA Burgers Wendy A WA
The Journal of infectious diseases 20131123 8
<h4>Background</h4>Semen is the main vector for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission from men to women. We investigated the influence of cytokines in semen on local HIV burden and activated T cells.<h4>Methods</h4>Blood and semen were collected from 42 HIV-negative and 38 HIV-positive men. Concentrations of 20 cytokines were measured by Luminex, and frequencies of activated T cells were measured by flow cytometry.<h4>Results</h4>Semen contained higher concentrations of proinflammatory ...[more]