HIV Infection in Uncircumcised Men Is Associated With Altered CD8 T-cell Function But Normal CD4 T-cell Numbers in the Foreskin

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases 2014-04, Vol.209 (8), p.1185-1194
• Main Authors: Prodger, Jessica L., Hirbod, Taha, Gray, Ronald, Kigozi, Godfrey, Nalugoda, Fred, Galiwango, Ronald, Reynolds, Steven J., Huibner, Sanja J., Wawer, Maria J., Serwadda, David, Kaul, Rupert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Circumcision, Male; Cytokines; Cytokines - metabolism; Flow Cytometry; Foreskin; Foreskin - immunology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genitalia; HIV; HIV 1; HIV infections; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV/AIDS; Human herpesvirus 2; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Infectious diseases; Major and Brief Reports; Male; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Men; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Polymerase Chain Reaction; T lymphocytes; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jit644

Background. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected (HIV+) men are more susceptible to sexually transmitted infections, and may be superinfected by HIV. We hypothesized that HIV induces immune alterations in the foreskin that may impact the subsequent acquisition/clearance of genital coinfections. Methods. Foreskin tissue and blood were obtained from 70 HIV-uninfected and 20 HIV+ men undergoing circumcision. T cells were characterized by flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and polymerase chain reaction. Results. There was substantial influx of CD8 T-cells into the foreskins of HIV+ men (108.8 vs 23.1 cells/mm² ; P