title: Innate immunity and disorders of the female reproductive tract.
abstract: Sexually transmitted infections, and their associated sequelae, such as tubal infertility, ectopic pregnancy and preterm labour, are a major worldwide health problem. Chlamydia trachomatis infection is thought to be the leading global cause of tubal infertility and tubal ectopic pregnancy. Preterm birth occurs in around 10% of all deliveries, and nearly 30% of preterm deliveries are associated with intrauterine infection. The mucosal innate immune system of the female reproductive tract has evolved to eliminate such sexually transmitted pathogens whilst maintaining its ability to accommodate specialized physiological functions that include menstruation, fertilization, implantation, pregnancy and parturition. The aim of this review was to describe the role and distribution of key mediators of the innate immune system, the natural antimicrobial peptides (secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor, elafin and the defensins) and the pattern recognition toll-like receptors in the normal female reproductive tract and in the context of these pathological processes.
authors.affiliation: The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Centre for Reproductive Biology, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Horne
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Stock
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000276:immunology*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology; D012488:Salpingitis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides