Elafin (SKALP/Trappin-2/proteinase inhibitor-3) is produced by the cervix in pregnancy and cervicovaginal levels are diminished in bacterial vaginosis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine cervicovaginal elafin production in pregnancy and determine its relationship in bacterial vaginosis.


METHODS
Samples of cervicovaginal secretions were collected from women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies (n = 112) below 20 weeks gestation. Bacterial flora was assessed using Nugent's criteria, and levels of elafin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent serologic assay (ELISA). Elafin expression in the cervix was also examined by immunohistochemistry. In vitro expression of elafin was examined using cervix and vaginal cell lines.


RESULTS
Elafin is expressed in the cervical glandular epithelium. Elafin was found in all 112 samples of cervicovaginal secretions and levels were diminished in women with bacterial vaginosis (P < .05). Interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) stimulated elafin expression in cells derived from the endocervix, but not in those derived from the vaginal epithelium.


CONCLUSIONS
Elafin is a component of cervicovaginal secretions in pregnancy, and levels are diminished in bacterial vaginosis. It may be an important component of innate immunity in the lower genital tract.
Stock
Sarah J
SJ
University of Edinburgh Centre for Reproductive Biology, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. sarah.stock@ed.ac.uk
Duthie
Leanne
L
Tremaine
Tina
T
Calder
Andrew A
AA
Kelly
Rodney W
RW
Riley
Simon C
SC
D000328:Adult; D002460:Cell Line; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D053492:Elafin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology
C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; D053492:Elafin; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D016209:Interleukin-8; C506806:PI3 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger