title: Altered CD16 expression on vaginal neutrophils from women with vaginitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Reduced CD16 expression is associated with neutrophil apoptosis. This study aimed to compare CD16 expression on neutrophils in the vagina from women with normal bacterial flora and with vaginitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vaginal lavages were sampled from volunteers diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis (BV, n=34), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VC, n=43), BV plus VC (BV+VC, n=14), and normal flora (NF, n=51). Neutrophils were identified by expression of CD15, CD16 and CD24 surface markers as assessed by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD16 expression was elevated in neutrophils from women with vaginitis (BV p<0.0001; VC p=0.01; BV+VC p=0.0027) as compared to women with NF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reduction in CD16 down-regulation is consistent with prolonged neutrophil viability and activity in the vagina of women with vaginitis. This may contribute to greater microbial clearance and, conversely, with inflammation-associated pathology.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Tocoginecologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Campinas University, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joziani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beghini
authors.forename: Paulo C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Giraldo
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riboldi
authors.forename: Rose L G
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eleutério
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Witkin
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guimarães
mesh_terms: D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000378:metabolism*; D014621:Vagina / Q000276:immunology*; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D017452:Receptors, IgG