Faculty Collaboration Database

Effects of HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus type 2 infection on lymphocyte and dendritic cell density in adult foreskins from Rakai, Uganda. J Infect Dis 2011 Mar 01;203(5):602-9

Date

01/12/2011

Pubmed ID

21220779

Pubmed Central ID

PMC3071278

DOI

10.1093/infdis/jiq091

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-79751499866 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   56 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Male circumcision reduces human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) acquisition, and HSV-2 infection is associated with an increased risk of HIV acquisition. To assess the cellular basis for these associations, we estimated immunologic cellular densities in foreskin tissue.

METHODS: Immunostained CD1a(+) dendritic cell and CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell densities were quantified in foreskin samples obtained from medical circumcision in Rakai, Uganda (35 HIV-infected, HSV-2-infected men; 5 HIV-infected, HSV-2-uninfected men; 22 HIV-uninfected, HSV-2-infected men; and 29 HIV-uninfected, HSV-2-uninfected men.

RESULTS: CD1A(+) dendritic cell densities did not vary by HIV or HSV-2 status. Compared with densities in HIV-uninfected, HSV-2-uninfected men (mean, 26.8 cells/mm(2)), CD4(+) T cell densities were similar in the HIV-infected, HSV-2-infected group (mean, 28.7 cells/mm(2)), were significantly decreased in the HIV-infected, HSV-2-uninfected group (mean, 11.2; P < .05), and were increased in the HIV-uninfected, HSV-2-infected group (mean, 68.7; P < .05). Dermal CD8(+) T cell densities were higher in the HIV and HSV-2-coinfected group (mean, 102.9) than in the HIV-uninfected, HSV-2-uninfected group (mean, 10.0; P < .001), the HIV-infected, HSV-2-uninfected group (mean, 27.3; P < .001), and the HIV-uninfected, HSV-2-infected group (mean, 25.3; P < .005).

DISCUSSION: The increased CD4(+) cellular density in the HIV-uninfected, HSV-2-infected men may help to explain why HSV-2-infected men are at increased risk of HIV acquisition. The absence of this increase in men coinfected with both HIV and HSV-2 is likely in part the result of the progressive loss of CD4(+) cells in HIV infection. Conversely, HIV and HSV-2 coinfection appears to synergistically increase CD8(+) T cell densities.

Author List

Johnson KE, Redd AD, Quinn TC, Collinson-Streng AN, Cornish T, Kong X, Sharma R, Tobian AA, Tsai B, Sherman ME, Kigozi G, Serwadda D, Wawer MJ, Gray RH

Author

Toby Charles Cornish MD, PhD Professor in the Pathology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
CD4 Lymphocyte Count
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
Cell Count
Circumcision, Male
Dendritic Cells
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Foreskin
HIV Infections
HIV-1
Herpes Genitalis
Herpesvirus 2, Human
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Inflammation
Linear Models
Male
Middle Aged
T-Lymphocytes
Uganda
Young Adult