Female genital tract inflammation, HIV co-infection and persistent mucosal Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections

Background: Persistent genital infections with high-risk HPV types increase risk of cervical disease and cancer. Since genital inflammation increases HIV acquisition risk and cancer progression, we evaluated whether HPV infection induces cytokine expression in the reproductive tract. Methods: Genital cytokines concentrations were measured in 93 HIV-infected and 72 uninfected women. HPV typing was done by Roche Linear array. Persistence and clearance of HPV were evaluated using longitudinal data. Results: Infection with HPV did not influence genital cytokine concentrations. In contrast, HIV-infected women had higher IL-1 alpha, IL-6, IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1 and G-CSF concentrations compared to HIV-uninfected women, and HPV-infections that were more prevalent, persistent and multi-type. Conclusion: HPV did not influence inflammatory cytokine levels in the genital tract, although immune suppression may favor persistence. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Inc.