Antiretroviral treatment did not restore functionality of cervical mucosal cells for Th17-related cytokines altered after HIV infection

FALIVENE, J; NICO, A; PEREZ, H; TURK, G; HOLGADO, MP; ZURITA, D; LAUFER, N; SUED, O; CARUSO MP; SALIDO, J; FINK, V; CAHN, P; GHERARDI, MARÍA MAGDALENA

Amsterdam

Conferencia; The 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018); 2018

BackgroundTh17 and Treg cells play a key role in HIV infection and mucosal defenses. A reduction of Th17 cells in the female genital mucosa (FGM) of HIV+ women has been previously described. Aim: To analyze the effects of antiretroviral treatment (ART) in these T-cell subsets in FGM in different groups of individuals.MethodsCervical mononuclear cells (CMCs) and exocervical swabs from FGM were obtained from the following groups: HIV- (n=21), HIV+ART+ (n=32) and HIV+ART- (n=12). Cytokines (CKs) secreted by CMCs after stimulation with PMA+Ionomycin and chemokines in exocervical swabs were quantified by Cytometric Bead Array.ResultsCMCs production of Th17-related-CKs (IL17A, IL17F, IL21 and IL22) and Treg-related-CKs (IL10 and TGF-β1) were evaluated. HIV+ART- group showed diminished proportions of positive responses for Th17-related-CKs compared to HIV- (IL17A, IL17F and IL21:p