Prevalence and in vitro specific immune response to human papillomavirus (HPV) in HIV-1-infected men in the São Paulo City, Brazil.

Abstract

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a DNA virus which includes more than180 genotypes, with HPV-16 accounted for 80% of cervical cancer cases in women. However, men are considered to be an important reservoir of HPV and previous results from our group showed that 30% of HIV-1-infected men are coinfected with HPV in the urine samples. Few studies have evaluated the immune response (Th1 and Th2) by the host and its relationship with progression to cancer in individuals infected with genital HPV. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and in vitro specific immune response to human papillomavirus (HPV) in HIV-1-infected men, with lesions suggestive of HPV and without injury. Methods: 300 urine samples will be collected of adult men infected with HIV from the clinic Adee3002 HC/FMUSP and the Center for Reference and Training in STD/AIDS. The samples will be submitted to a real-time PCR using Sybr Green® with degenerate primers PGMY09/11 to detect HPV DNA. The samples that showing the HPV DNA will then be submitted to a polymorphism restriction fragment (RFLP) to determine the HPV types. The specific cellular response will be evaluated by use of the quadrivalent vaccine and E7 protein of HPV for stimulated the culture, in vitro assays and detected by flow cytometry to Th1-Th2 pattern in men with and without injury to HPV. Thus, the results of this study will contribute to understanding of the immune response to HPV infection and genital lesions in men. (AU)