Quantification of Immune Cells in Women Using Contraception Optimally HIV prevention strategies should be linked to contraception for maximal public health benefit. However, hormonal contraception has been associated with increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition and transmission. The underlying biological mechanisms for this association are not fully understood. It is established that progesterone and progestin have effects on the human immune system, including effects on mucosal immunity. Genital tract immune cells are common portals of entry for HIV yet little is known about the effects of these contraceptives on immune cells in the genital mucosa. Given data suggesting women using systemic hormonal contraceptives may have increased susceptibility to HIV; this is a significant knowledge gap. The broad, long-term objectives of the studies proposed here are to clarify the relationship between contraceptive use and risk of HIV acquisition by characterizing changes in T lymphocyte populations in the cervices and endometria of women after initiation of hormonal contraception or intrauterine device (IUD) use. The proposed study aims to quantify immune cells and cell receptors within the female genital tract that are associated with HIV transmission, and to detect changes occurring with use of contraceptives. We plan to recruit a total of 225 healthy women aged 18-34 into a parallel cohort study: fifty each who are interested in initiating use of one of 4 contraceptives: (1) combined oral contraceptive pills, (2) depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera(R)), (3) a levonorgestrel intrauterine device (Mirena(R)), or (4) a copper intrauterine device (ParaGard(R)), plus 25 women using condoms alone. Cells from each participant will be collected from the cervix (using both cytobrush and biopsy), the endometrium, and peripheral blood at baseline (in the early follicular phase of their menstrual cycle) and after 3 and 6 months of contraceptive use. Cellular populations will be quantified using flow cytometry. Because genital tract microflora also impact mucosal immune cells within the genital tract, we will assess microflora of the lower and upper genital tract at each time point using culture-based and molecular methods. Characterizing changes in HIV target lymphocytes within the female genital tract associated with contraceptives could inform the design of future clinical trials assessing contraception and HIV risk as well as impact contraceptive recommendations for women at high risk of HIV exposure.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed project aims to increase our knowledge regarding the intersection between commonly used contraceptives and changes in immune cells in the female genital tract. The long term goal is to understand the impact of hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptives on HIV risk.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
4R01AI102835-05
Application #
9032431
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHD1)
Program Officer
Turpin, Jim A
Project Start
2012-04-15
Project End
2017-03-31
Budget Start
2016-04-01
Budget End
2017-03-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Magee-Women's Research Institute and Foundation
Department
Type
DUNS #
119132785
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
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Polis, Chelsea B; Achilles, Sharon L; Hel, Zdenek et al. (2018) Is a lower-dose, subcutaneous contraceptive injectable containing depot medroxyprogesterone acetate likely to impact women's risk of HIV? Contraception 97:191-197
Riley, Halley E M; Steyn, Petrus S; Achilles, Sharon L et al. (2017) Hormonal contraceptive methods and HIV: research gaps and programmatic priorities. Contraception 96:67-71
Petrina, Melinda A B; Cosentino, Lisa A; Rabe, Lorna K et al. (2017) Susceptibility of bacterial vaginosis (BV)-associated bacteria to secnidazole compared to metronidazole, tinidazole and clindamycin. Anaerobe 47:115-119
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Achilles, Sharon L; Chen, Beatrice A; Lee, Jessica K et al. (2015) Acceptability of randomization to levonorgestrel versus copper intrauterine device among women requesting IUD insertion for contraception. Contraception 92:572-4
Achilles, Sharon L; Creinin, Mitchell D; Stoner, Kevin A et al. (2014) Changes in genital tract immune cell populations after initiation of intrauterine contraception. Am J Obstet Gynecol 211:489.e1-9
Achilles, Sharon L; Hillier, Sharon L (2013) The complexity of contraceptives: understanding their impact on genital immune cells and vaginal microbiota. AIDS 27 Suppl 1:S5-15