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The Effect of Progesterone Levels and Pregnancy on HIV-1 Coreceptor Expression

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Abstract

The upregulation of HIV-1 co-receptor expression during certain clinical settings may explain the predisposition of individuals to enhanced HIV-1 acquisition. We sought to determine the effect of estrogen and progesterone on the HIV-1 coreceptors, CCR5 and CXCR4. Co-receptor expression on CD3- and CD14-positive cells obtained systemically and locally (genital tissue in women) was determined in men, pre- and post-menopausal women, pregnant women in each trimester and in labor. CCR5 on both CD3- and CD14-positive cells was highest in pregnant women, and increased as gestation advanced (P < .01 and P < .001, respectively). Progesterone levels were significantly associated with CCR5 expression on PBMCs (P < .03 for CD3-positive, and P < .002 for CD14-positive cells) and from cells isolated from tissue (P < .001).CCR5 mRNA expression correlated with the cell suface marker expression from blood and tissue. These findings suggest that pregnancy and other high progesterone states may predispose women to HIV-1 acquisition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Texas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, 75390, Dallas, USA

    Jeanne S. Sheffield MD, George D. Wendel Jr MD & Donald D. McIntire PhD

  2. Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA

    Michael V. Norgard PhD

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  1. Jeanne S. Sheffield MD
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  2. George D. Wendel Jr MD
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  3. Donald D. McIntire PhD
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Correspondence to Jeanne S. Sheffield MD.

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Sheffield, J.S., Wendel, G.D., McIntire, D.D. et al. The Effect of Progesterone Levels and Pregnancy on HIV-1 Coreceptor Expression. Reprod. Sci. 16, 20–31 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719108325510

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