| Publication Abstract Display | | Type: Published Manuscript | | Title: Herpesviruses and HIV-1 drug resistance mutations influence the virologic and immunologic milieu of the male genital tract. | | Authors: Gianella S, Morris SR, Anderson C, Spina CA, Vargas MV, Young JA, Richman DD, Little SJ, Smith DM | | Year: 2013 | | Publication: AIDS (London, England) | | Volume: 27 Issue: 1 Pages: 39-47 | | Abstract:OBJECTIVES:
To further understand the role that chronic viral infections of the male genital tract play on HIV-1 dynamics and replication.
DESIGN:
Retrospective, observational study including236 paired semen and blood samples collected from 115 recently HIV-1 infected antiretroviral naïve men who have sex with men (MSM).
METHODS:
In this study, we evaluated the association ofseminal HIV-1 shedding to co-infections with seven herpesviruses, blood plasma HIV-1 RNA levels, CD4+ T-cell counts, presence of transmitted drug resistance mutations (DRM) in HIV-1 pol, participants' age and stage of HIV-infection using multivariate generalized estimating equation methods (GEE). Associations between herpesvirus shedding, seminal HIV-1 levels, number and immune activation of seminal T-cells was also investigated (Mann Whitney).
RESULTS:
Seminal herpesvirus shedding was observed in 75.7% of subjects. Blood HIV-1 RNA levels (p < 0.01), and seminal CMV and HHV-8 levels (p < 0.05) were independent predictors of detectable seminal HIV-1 RNA, and higher seminal HIV-1 levelswere associated with CMV and EBV seminal shedding,and absence of DRM (p < 0.05). CMV and EBV seminal shedding was associated with higher number of seminalT-lymphocytes, but onlypresence of seminal CMV DNA was associated withincreasedimmune activation of T-lymphocytes in semen and blood.
CONCLUSIONS:
Despite high median CD4cells number, we found a high frequency of herpesviruses seminal shedding in our cohort. Shedding of CMV, EBV and HHV-8 and absence of DRM were associated with increased frequency of HIV-1 shedding and/or higher levels of HIV-1 RNA in semen, which are likely important co-factors for HIV-1 transmission. |
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