Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is the predominant cytokine expressed in the female genital tract of women with certain infectious/inflammatory conditions. IL-8 increased HIV-1 replication in T cells and to a greater extent in monocytes/macrophages in vitro. Physiological levels of IL-8 increased susceptibility to HIV-1 infection 5- to 8-fold in cervical explant tissues. Competitive inhibition of the IL-8 receptor CXCR2 with the small molecule inhibitor SB225002 resulted in a 45-70% decrease in cervical explant susceptibility to HIV-1 infection.

The Papanicolaou (Pap) test, based solely on the morphologic examination of exfoliated cells from the cervix, has reduced deaths due to cervical cancer by 74% in the United States during the past 40 years. During that time, the molecular mechanisms of cervical cancer have largely been elucidated. Taken together, these observations have identified a need for a high-throughput cervical cancer screening assay. We report the development of a high-throughput assay consisting of simultaneous immunophenotyping and ultrasensitive in situ hybridization for human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 messenger RNA (mRNA). This assay can be performed in less than 3 hours directly from liquid-based cervical cytology specimens. Overall, HPV fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for E6 and E7 mRNA demonstrated 83.3% sensitivity and 91.3% specificity for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions compared with the Pap test in 231 liquid-based cytology samples from 2 cohorts. In a subset of these samples, HPV FISH demonstrated higher sensitivity and specificity than Hybrid Capture (Digene, Gaithersburg, MD) for high-risk genotypes.

The Papanicolaou (Pap) test, based solely on the morphologic examination of exfoliated cells from the cervix, has reduced deaths due to cervical cancer by 74% in the United States during the past 40 years. During that time, the molecular mechanisms of cervical cancer have largely been elucidated. Taken together, these observations have identified a need for a high-throughput cervical cancer screening assay. We report the development of a high-throughput assay consisting of simultaneous immunophenotyping and ultrasensitive in situ hybridization for human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 messenger RNA (mRNA). This assay can be performed in less than 3 hours directly from liquid-based cervical cytology specimens. Overall, HPV fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for E6 and E7 mRNA demonstrated 83.3% sensitivity and 91.3% specificity for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions compared with the Pap test in 231 liquid-based cytology samples from 2 cohorts. In a subset of these samples, HPV FISH demonstrated higher sensitivity and specificity than Hybrid Capture (Digene, Gaithersburg, MD) for high-risk genotypes.