title: Association between serum cytokine profiles and clearance or persistence of high-risk human papillomavirus infection: a prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The cytokines that may be associated with the clearance or persistence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in patients with mild dysplasia or less of the uterine cervix were determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of 160 patients who harbored high-risk HPV with histologically confirmed mild dysplasia or less between January 2006 and August 2008 was performed. All patients were followed up at every 4 months during the first year. Human papillomavirus DNA tests by the Hybrid Capture 2 method (Digene, Gaithersburg, Md) were performed at every visit on all patients. Blood sampling was performed in all patients at their initial visit, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the serum levels of interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukins 6 and 10.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 160 patients, 107 (66.9%) had clearance of HPV infection after 12 months of follow-up. The median age of patients in the persistence group was significantly higher than that of patients in the clearance group (47 vs 38 years, respectively; range, 21-77 vs 21-71 years, respectively; P = 0.0009). In univariate analysis, the number of patients with serum negative for tumor necrosis factor alpha was significantly higher in the clearance group than the persistence group (P = 0.0363). However, in multivariate logistic regression analysis, all 4 cytokines failed to show any significant association with the clearance or persistence of HPV infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The baseline serum cytokine levels were not associated with the clearance or persistence of HPV infection. Systemic immunity may not influence the natural history of HPV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guro Hospital, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Mi Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In Ho
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae Jin
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: San Ha
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: Seung Hun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jae Kwan
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007723:Korea; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D055815:Young Adult; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D004279:DNA, Viral