Proinflammatory cytokines may stimulate replication and spread of HIV. To evaluate to what extent the female genital tract represents a source of these cytokines, we determined TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 concentrations in paired serum and cervicovaginal washings from 45 HIV-negative and 50 HIV-positive women, and then we looked for the relevant mRNAs in cervicovaginal secretions by RT-PCR. Cytokines were detected by ELISA in cervicovaginal fluid from most healthy women. Cervicovaginal washing levels of TNF-alpha were increased above the control value +2 SD in 11/50 HIV-positive women, those of IL-1 beta in 13/50, and those of IL-6 in 14/50. The prevalences of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 increase and their levels in cervicovaginal washings were significantly higher in the 20 patients at stage IV than in the 30 patients at earlier stages of the disease. In HIV-infected patients, serum and cervicovaginal washing levels correlated positively for TNF-alpha and IL-6, but not for IL-1 beta. Nine of 15 cytokine mRNAs determinations were positive in HIV-infected women versus 1 of 15 in controls (P < 0.01). These findings could be relevant to bidirectional heterosexual transmission of HIV.