title: Multiplex immunoassay of lower genital tract mucosal fluid from women attending an urban STD clinic shows broadly increased IL1ß and lactoferrin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  More than one million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) occur each day. The immune responses and inflammation induced by STDs and other frequent non-STD microbial colonizations (i.e. Candida and bacterial vaginosis) can have serious pathologic consequences in women including adverse pregnancy outcomes, infertility and increased susceptibility to infection by other pathogens. Understanding the types of immune mediators that are elicited in the lower genital tract by these infections/colonizations can give important insights into the innate and adaptive immune pathways that are activated and lead to strategies for preventing pathologic effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  32 immune mediators were measured by multiplexed immunoassays to assess the immune environment of the lower genital tract mucosa in 84 women attending an urban STD clinic. IL-3, IL-1ß, VEGF, angiogenin, IL-8, ß2Defensin and ß3Defensin were detected in all subjects, Interferon-α was detected in none, while the remaining mediators were detected in 40% to 93% of subjects. Angiogenin, VEGF, FGF, IL-9, IL-7, lymphotoxin-α and IL-3 had not been previously reported in genital mucosal fluid from women. Strong correlations were observed between levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6, between chemokines IP-10 and MIG and between myeloperoxidase, IL-8 and G-CSF. Samples from women with any STD/colonization had significantly higher levels of IL-8, IL-3, IL-7, IL-1ß, lactoferrin and myeloperoxidase. IL-1ß and lactoferrin were significantly increased in gonorrhea, Chlamydia, cervicitis, bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These studies show that mucosal fluid in general appears to be an environment that is rich in immune mediators. Importantly, IL-1ß and lactoferrin are biomarkers for STDs/colonizations providing insights into immune responses and pathogenesis at this mucosal site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology/Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America. gspear@rush.edu
authors.forename: Gregory T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Spear
authors.forename: Sabrina R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kendrick
authors.forename: Hua Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tin T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Mieoak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahk
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balderas
authors.forename: Santosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weinberg
authors.forename: Alan L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Landay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D044364:Vaginal Douching; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C508585:IL1B protein, human; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; C490098:LTF protein, human; D007781:Lactoferrin