Effect of semen on vaginal fluid cytokines and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor.
The presence of semen in vaginal fluid, as identified by an acid phosphatase spot test, does not influence vaginal proinflammatory cytokine concentrations.


OBJECTIVE
Determine whether semen, as detected by acid phosphatase, influences vaginal cytokines or secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor concentrations.


METHODS
138 pregnant women had vaginal fluid collected for Gram stain, acid phosphatase detection by colorimetric assay, and interleukin 1-Beta, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor measurement by enzyme immunoassay. Results for women with and without acid phosphatase were compared by Mann-Whitney test.


RESULTS
Of 138 subjects, 28 (20%) had acid phosphatase detected; of these, only 19 (68%) reported recent intercourse and 3 (11%) had sperm seen on Gram stain. There were no significant differences in proinflammatory cytokine concentrations; however, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor concentrations were significantly higher among women with acid phosphatase.


CONCLUSIONS
Proinflammatory cytokine measurement does not appear to be affected by the presence of semen, but secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor is significantly higher when semen is present. Detection of semen by acid phosphatase was associated with higher vaginal SLPI concentrations, however, the presence of semen did not appear to influence vaginal proinflammatory cytokine concentrations.
Agnew
Kathy J
KJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Box 356460, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. kagnew@u.washington.edu
Aura
Jan
J
Nunez
Norma
N
Lee
Zandra
Z
Lawler
Rick
R
Richardson
Carol E
CE
Culhane
Jennifer
J
Hitti
Jane
J
D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003075:Coitus; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D053481:Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000502:physiology; D019522:Vaginal Discharge / Q000276:immunology*
D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D007378:Interleukins; D053481:Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor; D000135:Acid Phosphatase