Slumbering mucosal immune response in the cervix of human papillomavirus DNA-positive and -negative women.
Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a prerequisite for cervical cancer and results from bypassing the local immune response. Twenty-four volunteers underwent an ectocervical biopsy, Pap smear, tests for sexually transmitted infections including HIV and HPV genotyping. All answered a questionnaire regarding medical history. Repeat Pap smear and HPV genotyping was performed 9-26 months later. Quantitative reverse transcriptase (qRT-)PCR was used to assess expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, CD27, IL-2, IL-12, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, HLA-DRα, TGFβ, IFNγ, PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, LAG3, IgA, IgG, CCR5, CCL5/RANTES and the IL-7 receptor in the biopsies. Eleven of 24 volunteers were HPV DNA-positive at baseline. Four of 10 were infected with a persistent HPV genotype at follow-up. All target molecules were successfully amplified and quantified except for IL-4. We found no difference in mRNA expression of these molecules when comparing HPV DNA-positive and -negative women, neither when comparing persistently infected individuals or those who cleared the infection. However, mRNA expression of the B cell phenotypic marker CD19 was higher in women using hormonal contraception than those not (p<0.05). HPV infection does not evoke a local inflammatory immune response in the ectocervix measurable with qRT-PCR. Hormonal contraception may influence B cell activity in the cervix.
Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Huddinge, Sweden.
Sophia
S
Brismar Wendel
Tove
T
Kaldensjö
Pernilla
P
Peterson
Sonia
S
Andersson
Kristina
K
Broliden
Taha
T
Hirbod
D000328:Adult; D052685:Alphapapillomavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic