title: IL-22 levels are associated with Trichomonas vaginalis infection in the lower genital tract.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  IL-22 has important functions at mucosal surfaces, including the induction of antimicrobial peptides and maintenance of epithelium. However, IL-22 has not been investigated in the genital tract during TV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women who visited an STD clinic and women from a cohort with frequent Trichomoniasis were studied. IL-22, IL-17, and antimicrobial peptides were measured in cervicovaginal lavage by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In women visiting the STD clinic, those without STDs (n = 10) had a median IL-22 of 0 pg/mL, while women with infections (n = 30) had 27 pg/mL (P = 0.04). In the cohort, women with Trichomoniasis (n = 19) had significantly higher IL-22 than women with no infections (n = 21, 74 versus 0 pg/mL, P = 0.0001). IL-17 was also significantly increased in Trichomoniasis, and there was a correlation between IL-22 and IL-17 (P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-22 is increased in STDs generally and in Trichomoniasis specifically suggesting an antimicrobial response of the mucosa and an epithelial repair process induced by the STDs.
authors: Department of Immunology/Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors: Hadijat Moradeke
authors: HM
authors: Makinde
authors: Reza
authors: R
authors: Zariffard
authors: Paria
authors: P
authors: Mirmonsef
authors: Richard M
authors: RM
authors: Novak
authors: Olamide
authors: O
authors: Jarrett
authors: Alan L
authors: AL
authors: Landay
authors: Gregory T
authors: GT
authors: Spear
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis; D055815:Young Adult; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000276:immunology; D054804:Cathelicidins; D000097043:Interleukin-22
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D020381:Interleukin-17; D007378:Interleukins; D023083:beta-Defensins; D054804:Cathelicidins; D000097043:Interleukin-22; C106641:DEFB4A protein, human