UCSF

Other than CD4+ count, the immunologic factors that underlie the relationship of HIV/AIDS with persistent oncogenic HPV (oncHPV) and cervical cancer are not well understood. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and regulatory T-cells (Tregs) are of particular interest. pDCs have both effector and antigen presenting activity and, in HIV-positive patients, low pDC levels are associated with opportunistic infections. Tregs downregulate immune responses, and are present at high levels in HIV-positives. The current pilot study shows for the first time that low pDC and high Treg levels may be significantly associated with oncHPV persistence in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative women. Larger studies are now warranted.