title: Mucinase and sialidase activity of the vaginal microflora: implications for the pathogenesis of preterm labour.
abstract: Evidence linking bacterial vaginosis (BV) to chorioamnionitis and spontaneous preterm birth is mounting. Successful treatment of BV could reduce the rate of late miscarriage and preterm birth. Mucinase and sialidase activity have been implicated in the pathogenesis of BV. This study extends the work of previous studies to investigate sialidase, other known mucin degrading enzymes and overall mucin degrading activity in samples of vaginal fluid from women with and without BV. Samples from 31 women were diagnosed for BV, and tested for enzyme activity using established assays. Activity was recorded in all samples. Significant increases in activity were detected in BV samples for sialidase using a mucin (BSM P<0.005) and serum type glycoprotein (AGP P<0.005) substrates, beta-galactosidase (P<0.001), and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (P<0.01). No significant increases in BV patients were detected in O-glycanase, proteinase, arylesterase, sulphatase or whole mucinase activities. These results support the hypothesis that certain BV-associated enzymes may detrimentally affect the mucosal barrier, permitting bacteria access to the uterus.
authors.affiliation: Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Laboratories, Division of Medicine, Bristol Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wiggins
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Soothill
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Millar
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Horner
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Corfield
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D009439:Neuraminidase; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases; D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases; C100002:hyaluronate lyase