Abstract
The mucosa and overlying fluid of the female reproductive tract (FRT) are portals for the heterosexual transmission of HIV-1. Toward the ongoing development of topically applied microbicides and mucosal vaccines against HIV-1, it is evermore important to understand how the dynamic FRT mucosa is involved in controlling transmission and infection of HIV-1. Cationic peptides and proteins are the principal innate immune effector molecules of mucosal surfaces, and interact in a combinatorial fashion to modulate HIV-1 infection of the cervix and vagina. While cationic peptides and proteins have historically been categorized as antimicrobial or have other host-benefitting roles, an increasing number of these molecules have been found to augment HIV-1 infection and potentially antagonize host defense. Complex environmental factors such as hormonal fluctuations and/or bacterial and viral co-infections provide additional challenges to both experimentation and interpretation of results. In the context of heterosexual transmission of HIV-1, this review explores how various cationic peptides and proteins participate in modulating host defense against HIV-1 of the cervicovaginal mucosa.
Highlights
IntroductionAccording to the World Health Organization (www.who.int), by the end of 2013, HIV/AIDS had claimed nearly 40 million lives
According to the World Health Organization, by the end of 2013, HIV/AIDS had claimed nearly 40 million lives
These regions are located in mucosal areas of rapid cellular turnover, have a single layer of columnar epithelium, and are populated with a high density of target CD4+ cells, collectively providing evidence that the cervix is the primary site for initial HIV-1 infection [13]
Summary
According to the World Health Organization (www.who.int), by the end of 2013, HIV/AIDS had claimed nearly 40 million lives. Clusters of SIV were routinely found in two primary regions of the FRT—the endocervix, and the cervical transformation zone between the endocervix and the ectocervix [12] These regions are located in mucosal areas of rapid cellular turnover, have a single layer of columnar epithelium, and are populated with a high density of target CD4+ cells, collectively providing evidence that the cervix is the primary site for initial HIV-1 infection [13]. While other reviews and chapters have comprehensively described various aspects of innate immunity to HIV-1 infection and transmission in the FRT [15,16], this review focuses on antimicrobial peptides and proteins and their role in preventing heterosexual HIV-1 infection and transmission
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