Byrnes, Deidre M., Antoni, Michael H., Goodkin, Karl, Efantis-Potter, Jonell, Asthana, Deshratn, Simon, Trudi, Munajj, Josefina, Ironson, Gail, Fletcher, Mary Ann, Byrnes, D M, Antoni, M H, Goodkin, K, Efantis-Potter, J, Asthana, D, Simon, T, Munajj, J, Ironson, G, and Fletcher, M A
Objective: This study examines whether stressful negative life events and pessimism were associated with lower natural killer cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) and T cytotoxic/suppressor cell (CD8+CD3+) percentage in black women co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 (HIV-1) and human papillomavirus (HPV), a viral initiator of cervical cancer.Method: Psychosocial interviews, immunological evaluations, and cervical swabs for HPV detection and subtyping were conducted on 36 HIV+ African-American, Haitian, and Caribbean women.Results: Greater pessimism was related to lower NKCC and cytotoxic/suppressor cells after controlling for presence/absence of HPV Types 16 or 18, behavioral/lifestyle factors, and subjective impact of negative life events.Conclusions: A pessimistic attitude may be associated with immune decrements, and possibly poorer control over HPV infection and increased risk for future promotion of cervical dysplasia to invasive cervical cancer in HIV+ minority women co-infected with HPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]