Journal Article

Effects of HIV-1 and Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Infection on Lymphocyte and Dendritic Cell Density in Adult Foreskins from Rakai, Uganda

Redd, Andrew D., Cornish, Toby, Serwadda, David, Kong, Xiangrong, Kigozi, Godfrey, Collinson-Streng, Aleisha N., Tsai, Benjamin, Wawer, Maria J., Johnson, Kristine E., Sherman, Mark E., Quinn, Thomas C., Tobian, Aaron A. R., Sharma, Rajni, Gray, Ronald H.

2011

Overview

Background. Male circumcision reduces human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) acquisition, and HSV-2 infection is associated with an increased risk of HIV acquisition. To assess the cellular basis for these associations, we estimated immunologic cellular densities in foreskin tissue. Methods. Immunostained CD1a⁺ dendritic cell and CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell densities were quantified in foreskin samples obtained from medical circumcision in Rakai, Uganda (35 HIV-infected, HSV-2-infected men; 5 HIV-infected, HSV-2-uninfected men; 22 HIV-uninfected, HSV-2-infected men; and 29 HIV-uninfected, HSV-2-uninfected men. Results. CD1A⁺ dendritic cell densities did not vary by HIV or HSV-2 status. Compared with densities in HIV-uninfected, HSV-2-uninfected men (mean, 26.8 cells/mm²), CD4⁺ T cell densities were similar in the HIV-infected, HSV-2-infected group (mean, 28.7 cells/mm²), were significantly decreased in the HIV-infected, HSV-2-uninfected group (mean, 11.2; P < .05), and were increased in the HIV-uninfected, HSV-2-infected group (mean, 68.7; P < .05). Dermal CD8⁺ T cell densities were higher in the HIV and HSV-2-coinfected group (mean, 102.9) than in the HIV-uninfected, HSV-2-uninfected group (mean, 10.0; P < .001), the HIV-infected, HSV-2-uninfected group (mean, 27.3; P < .001), and the HIV-uninfected, HSV-2-infected group (mean, 25.3; P < .005). Discussion. The increased CD4⁺ cellular density in the HIV-uninfected, HSV-2-infected men may help to explain why HSV-2—infected men are at increased risk of HIV acquisition. The absence of this increase in men coinfected with both HIV and HSV-2 is likely in part the result of the progressive loss of CD4⁺ cells in HIV infection. Conversely, HIV and HSV-2 coinfection appears to synergistically increase CD8⁺ T cell densities.

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Biological and medical sciences / CD4 Lymphocyte Count / CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - cytology / CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - virology / Cell Count / Circumcision, Male / Dendritic cells / Dendritic Cells - cytology / Dendritic Cells - virology / Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Epidermal cells / Foreskin / Foreskin - cytology / Foreskin - pathology / Foreskin - virology / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / Herpes Genitalis - pathology / Herpes Genitalis - prevention & control / Herpes Genitalis - virology / Herpes simplex virus 2 / Herpesvirus 2, Human - isolation & purification / HIV / HIV 1 / HIV Infections - pathology / HIV Infections - prevention & control / HIV Infections - virology / HIV-1 - isolation & purification / Human herpesvirus 2 / Human immunodeficiency virus / Human immunodeficiency virus 1 / Human immunodeficiency virus 2 / Humans / Immunohistochemistry / Infections / Infectious diseases / Inflammation / Inflammation - pathology / Inflammation - virology / Islets of Langerhans / Linear Models / Major and Brief Reports / Male / Medical sciences / Microbiology / Middle Aged / Miscellaneous / T lymphocytes / T-Lymphocytes - cytology / T-Lymphocytes - virology / Uganda / Virology / VIRUSES / Young Adult