ArticlePLoS pathogens2024
Sustained immune activation and impaired epithelial barrier integrity in the ectocervix of women with chronic HIV infection.
Article in PLoS pathogens, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Global research trends and hotspots in human immunodeficiency virus-associated cervical cancer (1990-2025): a multi-database bibliometric analysis.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Pooled it
- Novel Approaches for Investigating Host Responses to HIV Infection in Ex Vivo Human Genital Tissues.American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) · 2026Review
- Persistent IFN-I signaling associated with the HIV-1 reservoir fuels immune exhaustion and reveals therapeutic targets.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- Hematological disruptions in HIV-positive individuals with cardiac arrhythmias: a focus on coagulation and inflammation - a narrative review.Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) · 2025Review
- HIV-associated penile anaerobes disrupt epithelial barrier integrity.PLoS pathogens · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
14 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Chronic systemic immune activation significantly influences human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression. Despite evidence of a pro-inflammatory environment in the genital tract of HIV-infected women, comprehensive investigations into cervical tissue from this region remain limited. Similarly, the consequences of chronic HIV infection on the integrity of the female genital epithelium are poorly understood, despite its importance in HIV transmission and replication. Ectocervical biopsies were obtained from HIV-seropositive (n = 14) and HIV-seronegative (n = 47) female Kenyan sex workers. RNA sequencing and bioimage analysis of epithelial junction proteins (E-cadherin, desmoglein-1, claudin-1, and zonula occludens-1) were conducted, along with CD4 staining. RNA sequencing revealed upregulation of immunoregulatory genes in HIV-seropositive women, primarily associated with heightened T cell activity and interferon signaling, which further correlated with plasma viral load. Transcription factor analysis confirmed the upregulation of pro-inflammatory transcription factors, such as RELA, NFKB1, and IKZF3, which facilitates HIV persistence in T cells. Conversely, genes and pathways associated with epithelial barrier function and structure were downregulated in the context of HIV. Digital bioimage analysis corroborated these findings, revealing significant disruption of various epithelial junction proteins in ectocervical tissues of the HIV-seropositive women. Thus, chronic HIV infection associated with ectocervical inflammation, characterized by induced T cell responses and interferon signaling, coupled with epithelial disruption. These alterations may influence HIV transmission and heighten susceptibility to other sexually transmitted infections. These findings prompt exploration of therapeutic interventions to address HIV-related complications and mitigate the risk of sexually transmitted infection transmission.
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