Amount of seminal IL-1beta 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-1beta as compared to a group of 33 HIV negative controls. In HIV positive subjects, amounts of IL-1beta and HIV-1 RNA in semen were significantly correlated and a trend for correlation was found between seminal IL-1beta and blood HIV-1 RNA. Amount of seminal IL-1beta was significantly lower in patients under HAART, according to the decrease of their viral loads in blood and semen.

Conclusions: Considering that IL-1beta 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.