Fig. 5
From: HPV infection and the genital cytokine milieu in women at high risk of HIV acquisition
Association between HPV infection and genital cytokines over time. Figure 5a: Plots depict the mean differences in genital cytokine concentrations at visits where the overlapping definitions of HPV clearance (N = 482 visits), acquisition (N = 404 visits) and persistence (N = 247 visits) were observed, respectively, relative to category 1, where participants remained HPV negative (N = 173 visits). Figure 5b: Mean differences in genital cytokine concentrations between category 1 (N = 173) and visits where the HPV categories 2–8 were observed. The number of visits compared to category 1 in multivariable models are listed beneath each category. Individual associations are shown between HPV status and pro-inflammatory cytokines (red), chemokines (blue), growth/hematopoietic factors (green), adaptive response cytokines (purple), and regulatory cytokines (orange), with error bars depicting 95% confidence intervals. The models test the hypothesis that the mean cytokine levels in comparator groups are equal i.e. β = 0. The dotted line at β = 0 distinguishes higher (to the right of the line) from lower (to the left of the line) mean cytokine differences in the respective categories relative to the remained HPV negative group. Gray shadings represent genital cytokines previously associated with HIV risk in this cohort: IP-10, IL-8, MIP-1α, and MIP-1β. Filled shapes represent significant associations after false discovery rate (FDR) adjustment using a threshold of 0.05 in multivariable models controlling for baseline treatment group, age, age of sexual debut, number of sexual partners, number of sex acts (past 30 days), presence of STI symptoms, HSV-2 status, condom use, marital status, and whether women were living with regular partners. The figures are annotated to describe the temporal dynamics of the HPV infection, with t0 referring to the HPV status at the last visit prior to that at t1, at which cytokine concentrations were measured for both that category and for the category 1 control. Hypothetical HPV type infections are listed beneath to clarify the definition. For example: for “ANY HPV CLEARANCE” between t0 and t1, the clearance of HPV (HPV type-x) can be observed in the presence of acquisition (HPV type-z) or persistence (HPV type-y)
