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Repeated semen exposure decreases cervicovaginal SIVmac251 infection in rhesus macaques

Author

Listed:
  • Shaheed A. Abdulhaqq

    (The Wistar Institute)

  • Melween Martinez

    (University of Puerto Rico (UPR))

  • Guobin Kang

    (School of Biological Sciences University of Nebraska)

  • Idia V. Rodriguez

    (University of Puerto Rico (UPR))

  • Stephanie M. Nichols

    (University of Puerto Rico (UPR))

  • David Beaumont

    (Duke University)

  • Jocelin Joseph

    (The Wistar Institute)

  • Livio Azzoni

    (The Wistar Institute)

  • Xiangfan Yin

    (The Wistar Institute)

  • Megan Wise

    (The Wistar Institute)

  • David Weiner

    (The Wistar Institute)

  • Qin Liu

    (The Wistar Institute)

  • Andrea Foulkes

    (Mount Holyoke College)

  • Jan Münch

    (Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Frank Kirchhoff

    (Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Christos Coutifaris

    (University of Pennsylvania)

  • Georgia D. Tomaras

    (Duke University)

  • Carlos Sariol

    (University of Puerto Rico (UPR))

  • Preston A. Marx

    (Tulane University)

  • Qingsheng Li

    (School of Biological Sciences University of Nebraska)

  • Edmundo N. Kraiselburd

    (University of Puerto Rico (UPR))

  • Luis J. Montaner

    (The Wistar Institute)

Abstract

Semen is the vehicle for virion dissemination in the female reproductive tract (FRT) in male-to-female HIV transmission. Recent data suggests that higher frequency semen exposure is associated with activation of anti-HIV mechanisms in HIV negative sex workers. Here, we use a non-human primate (NHP) model to show that repeated vaginal exposure to semen significantly reduces subsequent infection by repeated low-dose vaginal SIVmac251 challenge. Repeated semen exposures result in lower CCR5 expression in circulating CD4+ T-cells, as well as higher expression of Mx1 (in correlation with IFNε expression) and FoxP3 in the cervicovaginal mucosa, and increased infiltration of CD4+ T-cells. Establishing in vivo evidence of competing effects of semen on transmission impacts our basic understanding of what factors may determine HIV infectivity in humans. Our results clearly indicate that repeated semen exposure can profoundly modulate the FRT microenvironment, paradoxically promoting host resistance against HIV acquisition.

Suggested Citation

  • Shaheed A. Abdulhaqq & Melween Martinez & Guobin Kang & Idia V. Rodriguez & Stephanie M. Nichols & David Beaumont & Jocelin Joseph & Livio Azzoni & Xiangfan Yin & Megan Wise & David Weiner & Qin Liu &, 2019. "Repeated semen exposure decreases cervicovaginal SIVmac251 infection in rhesus macaques," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-11814-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11814-5
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