Local profile of cytokines and nitric oxide in patients with bacterial vaginosis and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the local immune response in patients with bacterial vaginosis (BV) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), as assessed by cytokine and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations.


METHODS
Patients attending for routine gynaecological examination were prospectively enrolled in groups: BV (n=25) diagnosed by clinical criteria, CIN graded I to III (n=35, 6 CIN I, 8 CIN II and 21 CIN III) by histological analysis, and controls (n=15) without clinical and cytological findings. Randomly selected patients within CIN group at grades II or III (n=15) were re-evaluated at 60 days after surgical treatment. Endocervical (EC) and vaginal secretion samples were collected by cytobrush and the levels of cytokines (ELISA) and NO metabolite (Griess reaction) were assayed.


RESULTS
NO was assessed in all subjects, and cytokines in all controls, 15 BV and 30 CIN patients. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and nitrite levels were higher in EC than in vaginal secretions in BV and CIN groups. In CIN group, IL-8, IL-10 and nitrite concentrations were greater in EC and/or vaginal secretions than in BV or controls. Surgical treatment reduced IL-8 levels in EC and vaginal secretions.


CONCLUSIONS
A similar local immune profile was found in BV and CIN groups. The increased local production of IL-8, IL-10 and NO in CIN suggests a role for these mediators in the immune response against tumour or tumour development.
Department of Biological Sciences, Discipline of Pharmacology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil. bmurtafarmaco@dcb.uftm.edu.br
Beatriz M
BM
Tavares-Murta
Andréia D
AD
de Resende
Fernando Q
FQ
Cunha
Eddie Fernando C
EF
Murta
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D012634:Bodily Secretions / Q000737:chemistry; D002584:Cervix Uteri; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D014621:Vagina; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery
D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D016753:Interleukin-10; D009569:Nitric Oxide