Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of the uterine cervix

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been detected in cervical secretions from HIV-infected women. We report the isolation of HIV from four cervical biopsy specimens. Cervicitis was shown by immunohistochemical staining in cervical biopsy specimens from four HIV-seropositive women; cervicitis was not found in cervical biopsy specimens from four HIV-seronegative women. We found HIV antigens in monocyte-macrophages and endothelial cells within the submucosa of three of these cervices by specific immunohistochemical staining. Small numbers of HIV-infected cells resembling lymphocytes also were found in the cervical mucosa. The virus was not shown by culture or immunohistochemistry in cervical biopsy specimens from the four HIV-seronegative women. These findings suggest that HIV enters cervical secretions from selected infected cell populations within the cervical tissue. The HIV-infected cells in cervical tissue may be involved in transmission of HIV by heterosexual contact and to neonates born to HIV-infected women.