Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Differential Expression of Local Immune Response Genes in the Vagina: Implication for the Diagnosis of Vaginal Infections

  • IMMUNOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY
  • Published:
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine Aims and scope

Transcription profiles of genes of local immune response were determined in the vagina of women with bacterial vaginosis, aerobic vaginitis, and vulvovaginal candidosis for detection of the most specific immune markers for these vaginal infections. Laboratory diagnosis of the vaginal infections was performed microscopically; the inflammatory reaction in the vagina (leukorrhea) was defined as the presence of >10 white blood cells per field of view. Transcription profiles of IL1b, IL10, IL18, TNFα, TLR4, GATA3, and CD68 were determined using reverse-transcription quantitative real-time PCR. The strongest predictors of aerobic vaginitis were increased levels of IL1b and IL10 mRNA. Bacterial vaginosis was strongly associated with reduced levels of IL18 and GATA3 mRNA. Increased levels of IL1b and TLR4 transcripts showed significant discriminatory power for vulvovaginal candidosis and leukorrhea. The results of this study suggest differential expression of local immune response genes in the vagina of women with different vaginal infections. Detection of specific immune markers in the vagina using reverse-transcriptase PCR could supplement PCR detection of abnormal vaginal microflora for the diagnosis of vaginal infections.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Mironova AV, Chernichenko II. Possibilities of topical treatment of inflammatory diseases of vulva and vagina in girls. Pediatr. 2017;8(3):88-93. Russian.

  2. Shalepo KV, Nazarova VV, Menukhova YN, Shipitsyna YV, Savicheva AM. Diagnosis and therapy of bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy. Pediatr. 2014;5(3):88-95. Russian.

  3. Anderson BL, Cu-Uvin S, Raker CA, Fitzsimmons C, Hillier SL. Subtle perturbations of genital microflora alter mucosal immunity among low-risk pregnant women. Acta Obstet. Gynecol. Scand. 2011;90(5):510-515.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Bourmenskaya O, Bayramova G, Nepsha O, Rebrikov D, Trofimov D, Muravieva V, Sukhikh G. Vaginal smear TNF-alpha, IL18, TLR4, and GATA3 MRNA levels correlate with local inflammation. Int. J. Biomed. 2014;4(4):204-208.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Campisciano G, Zanotta N, Licastro D, De Seta F, Comar M. In vivo microbiome and associated immune markers: new insights into the pathogenesis of vaginal dysbiosis. Sci. Rep. 2018;8(1. ID 2307. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-20649-x

  6. Donders GG. Definition and classification of abnormal vaginal flora. Best Pract. Res. Clin. Obstet. Gynaecol. 2007;21(3):355-373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Gonçalves B, Ferreira C, Alves CT, Henriques M, Azeredo J, Silva S. Vulvovaginal candidiasis: epidemiology, microbiology and risk factors. Crit. Rev. Microbiol. 2016;42(6):905-927.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Marconi C, Donders GG, Bellen G, Brown DR, Parada CM, Silva MG. Sialidase activity in aerobic vaginitis is equal to levels during bacterial vaginosis. Eur. J. Obstet. Gynecol. Reprod. Biol. 2013;167(2):205-209.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Menard JP, Mazouni C, Fenollar F, Raoult D, Boubli L, Bretelle F. Diagnostic accuracy of quantitative real-time PCR assay versus clinical and Gram stain identification of bacterial vaginosis. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 2010;29(12):547-552.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Mirmonsef P, Gilbert D, Zariffard MR, Hamaker BR, Kaur A, Landay AL, Spear GT. The effects of commensal bacteria on innate immune responses in the female genital tract. Am. J. Reprod. Immunol. 2011;65(3):190-195.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Peebles K, Velloza J, Balkus JE, McClelland RS, Barnabas RV. High global burden and costs of bacterial vaginosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sex Transm. Dis 2019; 46(5):304-311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Rumyantseva TA, Bellen G, Savochkina YA, Guschin AE, Donders GG. Diagnosis of aerobic vaginitis by quantitative real-time PCR. Arch. Gynecol. Obstet. 2016;294(1):109-114.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Sherrard J, Wilson J, Donders G, Mendling W, Jensen JS. 2018 European (IUSTI/WHO) International Union against sexually transmitted infections (IUSTI) World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline on the management of vaginal discharge. Int. J. STD AIDS 2018;29(13):1258-1272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Shipitsyna E, Roos A, Datcu R, Hallén A, Fredlund H, Jensen JS, Engstrand L, Unemo M. Composition of the vaginal microbiota in women of reproductive age — sensitive and specific molecular diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis is possible? PLoS One. 2013;8(4). ID e60670. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0060670

  15. Tansarli GS, Kostaras EK, Athanasiou S, Falagas ME. Prevalence and treatment of aerobic vaginitis among non-pregnant women: evaluation of the evidence for an underestimated clinical entity. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 2013;32(8):977-984.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, Saint Petersburg, Russia

    O. V. Budilovskaya, E. V. Shipitsina, E. V. Spasibova, N. A. Pereverzeva, N. E. Vorob’eva, N. D. Tsypurdeeva, A. N. Grigoryev & A. M. Savicheva

  2. St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russia

    O. V. Budilovskaya, E. V. Shipitsina, E. V. Spasibova & A. M. Savicheva

Authors
  1. O. V. Budilovskaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. V. Shipitsina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. V. Spasibova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N. A. Pereverzeva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. N. E. Vorob’eva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. N. D. Tsypurdeeva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. A. N. Grigoryev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. A. M. Savicheva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to O. V. Budilovskaya.

Additional information

Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 168, No. 11, pp. 588-592, November, 2019

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Budilovskaya, O.V., Shipitsina, E.V., Spasibova, E.V. et al. Differential Expression of Local Immune Response Genes in the Vagina: Implication for the Diagnosis of Vaginal Infections. Bull Exp Biol Med 168, 646–650 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10517-020-04771-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10517-020-04771-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation