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Levels of Genital Tract Defensins and Cytokines Differ between HIV ‐Uninfected US and African Women
Author(s) -
Murphy Kerry,
Richardson Barbra A.,
Dezzutti Charlene S.,
Marrazzo Jeanne,
Hillier Sharon L.,
Hendrix Craig W.,
Herold Betsy C.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/aji.12411
Subject(s) - microbicide , microbicides for sexually transmitted diseases , immunology , logistic regression , lactoferrin , immune system , medicine , vaginal microbicide , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , bacterial vaginosis , hiv vaccine , biology , physiology , gynecology , population , vaccine trial , environmental health , genetics , health services
Problem To explore the impact of race and geographic region on biomarkers of HIV risk and vaginal health, differences in soluble immune mediators were measured in US versus African and US white versus US black women at enrollment into a phase 2 microbicide trial. Methods Levels of soluble mucosal immune mediators and inhibitory activity against E. coli , which may serve as biomarkers of risk for HIV and other genital tract infections, were quantified in cervicovaginal lavage ( CVL ) collected from HIV ‐uninfected women in the United States ( n = 73) and Africa ( n = 73). Differences between groups were analyzed with multivariable logistic regression models for dichotomous variables and linear regression models for continuous variables. Results Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor, lactoferrin, human beta defensins, interleukin ( IL )‐8, and interferon‐gamma‐induced protein‐10 were significantly higher in US compared to African women in multivariable analysis, but only IL ‐1β was significantly different between US white and black women. E. coli inhibitory activity did not differ among groups in adjusted analyses. Conclusion Differences in soluble mucosal immunity between US and African women may play an important role in women's risk for HIV and other genital tract infections and response to prevention strategies including vaginal microbicides and should be considered in future studies.