Cyclic changes in the level of the innate immune molecule, surfactant protein-a, and cytokines in vaginal fluid.
OBJECTIVE
Our knowledge of the innate host defenses in the vagina, a site where these defenses are essential to protecting the host upper reproductive tract from invasion by pathogens, is as yet rudimentary. Specifically, little is known about the pattern-recognition component of vaginal innate immunity, the relationship of pattern-recognition molecules to known cytokine levels, and the role of gonadal hormones in their regulation.


METHODS
We measured levels of Surfactant Protein-A (SP-A), a prototypic innate pattern-recognition protein, in vaginal fluid (VF) and correlated them with levels of IL-1β and IL-8, two cytokines known to be present in VF. Assays were carried out on VF collected over three consecutive cycles from ten healthy naturally cycling women who were sampled at three specific time points in the menstrual cycle. The three time points were chosen to enable correlation with distinct hormonal states.


RESULTS
Both SP-A and cytokines levels were highest 5-6 days after menses (P < 0.05) and were significantly lower at ovulation and mid-luteal phase.


CONCLUSIONS
Surfactant Protein-A, like other host defense molecules in the reproductive tract, appears to be regulated by gonadal hormones.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17083, USA. cmacneill@psu.edu
Colin
C
Macneill
Glendell
G
de Guzman
Grace E
GE
Sousa
Todd M
TM
Umstead
David S
DS
Phelps
Joanna
J
Floros
Kwangmi
K
Ahn
Judith
J
Weisz
D000328:Adult; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000276:immunology; D010507:Periodicity; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014621:Vagina / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*
C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D016209:Interleukin-8; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A