Amount of seminal IL-1β positively correlates to HIV-1 load in the semen of infected patients

Abstract

Background Cytokines present in the sperm could influence the heterosexual transmission of HIV by modulating viral titers and influencing the early immune response in the vaginal mucosa. Objectives To assess the relation between cytokine concentrations and HIV status in the seminal plasma. Study design Twenty-five HIV positive subjects were tested for cytokine content and HIV-1 load in seminal and blood plasma through a cross-sectional study. Results HIV positive subjects exhibited a significantly higher amount of seminal IL-1β as compared to a group of 33 HIV negative controls. In HIV positive subjects, amounts of IL-1β and HIV-1 RNA in semen were significantly correlated and a trend for correlation was found between seminal IL-1β and blood HIV-1 RNA. Amount of seminal IL-1β was significantly lower in patients under HAART, according to the decrease of their viral loads in blood and semen. Conclusions Considering that IL-1β is known to enhance viral replication and to promote immune response, its dosage in semen could represent an interesting marker for identifying patients at high risk for HIV heterosexual transmission.