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Interferon epsilon in the reproductive tract of healthy and genital herpes simplex virus‐infected pregnant women: Results of a pilot study
Author(s) -
Nickodem Colette,
Criscitiello Michael F.,
Bazer Fuller,
AbiodunOjo Olayinka,
Taylor Brandie D.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/aji.12995
Subject(s) - pregnancy , medicine , herpes simplex virus , obstetrics , sex organ , gynecology , physiology , immunology , virus , biology , genetics
Problem Recently characterized interferon epsilon ( IFN e) protects against sexually transmitted infections, including genital herpes simplex virus ( HSV ), in animal models. There are no reports of IFN e in genital tract secretions of pregnant women, and data on IFN e in non‐pregnant women are limited. This pilot study is the first to measure concentrations of IFN e in vaginal and cervical secretions during pregnancy and compare values between healthy and genital HSV ‐infected women. Method of Study Vaginal or cervical specimens from 30 pregnant women were obtained from the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth ( GAPPS ) repository. Cervical samples were collected during the first trimester and vaginal samples across pregnancy. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay determined concentrations of IFN e (pg/mL). Data for IFN e were log‐transformed and compared by maternal demographics, clinical variables, and HSV status using t tests and linear regression. Repeated measures analysis explored trends across pregnancy. Results Among the entire cohort, first trimester concentrations of IFN e in vaginal or cervical secretions decreased as body mass index increased (β = −0.14, P = .0466). Concentrations of vaginal IFN e increased across pregnancy in HSV ‐infected and healthy women ( P = .009). Average vaginal IFN e across pregnancy was lower in women with HSV compared to healthy women ( P = .0009). Conclusion Interferon epsilon increased across pregnancy, but was less abundant in women with HSV . This pilot investigation cannot make any definitive conclusions. However, animal models suggest that IFN e may protect against STI s. Thus, larger studies are required to validate expression of IFN e in the reproductive tract of pregnant women with and without genital infections.