title: Proteomic analysis and characterisation of human cervico-vaginal fluid proteins.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cervico-vaginal fluid (CVF) may provide insight into the biochemical pathways of human reproduction and parturition. The aim of this study was to establish a 2-D electrophoretic map of human CVF in healthy, pregnant women at term.
  
  
  METHODS
  CVF was collected, concentrated and processed by routine 2-D polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using pH 4-7-immobilised pH gradient strips and 8-16% gradient polyacrylamide gels. Imaged gels were analysed, yielding more than 400 proteins. A total of 157 proteins were common to all gels with a subgroup of the most abundant proteins being excised and characterised either by MALDI or by electrospray ion-trap mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one proteins were successfully identified, yielding 15 different proteins. These included blood transport proteins (albumin and transthyretin); a structural protein (beta-actin); proteins involved in fatty acid metabolism (fatty acid-binding protein and acetyl-CoA-binding protein); a calcium-binding protein (annexin III); an anti-inflammatory cytokine (interleukin-1 receptor antagonist); proteinase inhibitors (alpha-1-antitrypsin, monocyte/neutrophil elastase inhibitor, squamous cell carcinoma antigen-1 and cystatin A); and enzymes involved in oxidative stress defence (thioredoxin, peroxiredoxin 2, glutathione S-transferase P and copper,zinc superoxide dismutase).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CVF is a complex body fluid consisting of both endogenous and environmental proteins. The putative role of some of these proteins in the human reproductive tract is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. algmeg@smartchat.net.au
authors.forename: Megan K W
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Di Quinzio
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Holdsworth
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ayhan
authors.forename: Susan P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Gregory E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Harry M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Permezel
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000378:metabolism*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D040901:Proteomics; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011506:Proteins