In the current multicenter study, reported in the May 1, 2008 issue of AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, researchers compared vaginal fluid samples from HIV positive and HIV negative women to assess the effect of HIV infection on concentrations of vaginal proinflammatory cytokines and the mucosal defense molecule secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI).

Bacterial vaginosis. This type of vaginitis results from overgrowth of one of several organisms normally present in your vagina, upsetting the natural balance of vaginal bacteria.

A total of 27 HIV positive women and 54 HIV negative control subjects matched for bacterial vaginosis (BV) status had proinflammatory cytokine and SLPI concentrations measured in archived cervicovaginal lavage and vaginal swab samples. Cytokines assessed included interleukin (IL)-1-beta, IL-6, and IL-8.

Log-transformed concentrations were compared by BV and HIV status in a univariate analysis using Student's t-test and in a multivariate analysis using a linear regression model.

Results

• In the univariate analysis, there were no significant differences in cytokine concentrations among HIV positive and HIV negative women.

• In a multivariable linear regression model, BV was significantly associated with an increase in IL-1-beta (P = 0.003).

• HIV infection was associated with increased concentrations of SLPI (P = 0.008), while BV status was significantly associated with decreased SLPI concentrations (P = 0.005).

• Neither HIV nor BV was associated with changes in IL-6 or IL-8.

Conclusion

Based on these findings, the study authors concluded, "HIV does not have a major impact on vaginal concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines when controlling for the presence of bacterial vaginosis."

Another recent study found that oral therapy reduced the incidence of BV in African women, which may contribute to reduced susceptibility to HIV infection.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Department of Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

6/03/08

Reference
CM Mitchell, J Balkus, KJ Agnew, and others. Bacterial vaginosis, not HIV, is primarily responsible for increased vaginal concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 24(5): 667-671. May 1, 2008.