[Study of local immunity of lower genital tract infections].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the profile of local immunity of vagina and the immune defense mechanisms against lower genital tract infections.


METHODS
Vaginal lavage was collected from healthy women and patients of vulvovaginal candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, Trichomonol vaginitis, human papilloma virus infection (VVC), and chlamydia trachomatis infection. Each group included 60 cases. The level of interleukin (IL)2, 4, 5, 13, 8 and human defensin 5 (HD5) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).


RESULTS
(1) Cytokine of helper T cell 1(Th1): the level of IL-2 between healthy women and VVC/ bacterial vaginosis (BV)/ trichomonol vaginitis (TV)/ chlamydia trachomatis (CT) patients had no significant difference. The IL-2 level(96 +/- 33) x 10(-3) pg/L of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection patients was significantly higher than that of healthy women (P < 0.05). (2) Cytokine of helper T cell 2 (Th2): the level of IL-4 between healthy women and VVC/CT patients had no significant difference. The level of IL-5 between healthy women and BV patients had no significant difference. The IL-13 level (42 +/- 15) x 10(-3) pg/L of TV patients was significantly higher than that of healthy women (30 +/- 29) x 10(-3) pg/L (P < 0.05). The IL-4 level (103 +/- 28) x 10(-3) pg/L of HPV infection patients was significantly higher than that of healthy women (36 +/- 22) x 10(-3) pg/L (P < 0.05). (3) IL-8: the IL-8 level (5.8 +/- 2.7) pg/L of TV infection patients was significantly higher than that of healthy women (2.6 +/- 2.4) pg/L (P < 0.05). The level of IL-8 between healthy women and BV patients had no significant difference. (4) HD5: the HD5 level of TV, BV, VVC, HPV and CT infection patients were significantly higher than that of healthy women (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
(1) HD5 plays an important role in the defence of vaginal epithelial cell. (2) Th2 may be more important than Thl in lower genital tract infections. (3) IL-8 plays an important role in extrinsic source infections.
Zhang
Dai
D
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beifing 100034, China.
Liu
Zhao-hui
ZH
Liao
Qin-ping
QP
Ma
Jing-mei
JM
Sun
Yu-feng
YF
Fan
Shang-rong
SR
Hu
Li-na
LN
Jia
Hai-jun
HJ
Di
Wen
W
Wang
Wen
W
D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D023084:alpha-Defensins / Q000378:metabolism*
D016207:Cytokines; D023084:alpha-Defensins