Bacterial vaginosis in HIV-infected women induces reversible alterations in the cervical immune environment

Abstract

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been associated with increased HIV cervicovaginal shedding. We hypothesized that this might relate to BV-associated increases in mucosal activated CD4+ T cells, which could enhance local HIV replication BV induces significant and reversible alterations in cervical immune cell populations and local inflammatory cytokines that would be expected to enhance local HIV replication