IL-8 increases transmission of HIV type 1 in cervical explant tissue

Roberto Narimatsu1, Dawit Wolday, Bruce K Patterson

  • 1Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305-5629, USA.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is the predominant cytokine expressed in the female genital tract of women with certain infectious/inflammatory conditions. IL-8 increased HIV-1 replication in T cells and to a greater extent in monocytes/macrophages in vitro. Physiological levels of IL-8 increased susceptibility to HIV-1 infection 5- to 8-fold in cervical explant tissues. Competitive inhibition of the IL-8 receptor CXCR2 with the small molecule inhibitor SB225002 resulted in a 45-70% decrease in cervical explant susceptibility to HIV-1 infection.