In order to establish productive infection in women, HIV must transverse the vaginal epithelium and gain access to local target cells. Genital inflammation contributes to the availability of HIV susceptible cells at the female genital mucosa and is associated with higher HIV transmission rates in women. Factors that contribute to genital inflammation may subsequently increase the risk of HIV infection in women. Semen is a highly immunomodulatory fluid containing several bioactive molecules with the potential to influence inflammation and immune activation at the female genital tract. In addition to its role as a vector for HIV transmission, semen induces profound mucosal changes to prime the female reproductive tract for conception. Still, most studies of mucosal immunity are conducted in the absence of semen or without considering its immune impact on the female genital tract. This review discusses the various mechanisms by which semen exposure may influence female genital inflammation and highlights the importance of routine screening for semen biomarkers in vaginal specimens to account for its impact on genital inflammation.

中文翻译：

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精液：女性生殖道炎症的调节剂和 HIV-1 传播的载体

为了在女性中建立有效感染，艾滋病毒必须穿过阴道上皮并进入局部靶细胞。生殖器炎症有助于女性生殖器粘膜上艾滋病毒易感细胞的可用性，并与女性较高的艾滋病毒传播率相关。导致生殖器炎症的因素随后可能会增加女性感染艾滋病毒的风险。精液是一种高度免疫调节的液体，含有多种生物活性分子，有可能影响女性生殖道的炎症和免疫激活。精液除了作为艾滋病毒传播载体的作用外，还会引起粘膜的深刻变化，为女性生殖道受孕做好准备。尽管如此，大多数粘膜免疫研究都是在没有精液的情况下进行的，或者没有考虑精液对女性生殖道的免疫影响。这篇综述讨论了精液暴露可能影响女性生殖器炎症的各种机制，并强调了常规筛查阴道标本中精液生物标志物的重要性，以解释其对生殖器炎症的影响。