Open AccessCervicovaginal levels of human beta defensins during bacterial vaginosis
Author(s) -
Nathália Mayumi Noda-Nicolau,
Mariana de Castro Silva,
Giovana Fernanda Cosi Bento,
Jeniffer Sena Baptista Ferreira,
Juliano Novak,
Júlia Andrade Pessoa Morales,
Júlia Abbade Tronco,
Aline Nascimento Bolpetti,
Gabriel Vitor Silva Pinto,
Jossimara Polettini,
Camila Marconi,
Márcia Guimarães da Silva
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0260753
Subject(s) - bacterial vaginosis , beta defensin , confidence interval , medicine , odds ratio , gastroenterology , gynecology , receptor , innate immune system
Aims To compare the cervicovaginal levels of human beta defensin (hBD)-1, 2 and 3 of women according to the status of Nugent-defined bacterial vaginosis (BV). Methods A total of 634 women of reproductive age were included in the study. Participants were equally distributed in two groups: according to the classification of vaginal smears according to Nugent criteria in normal (scores 0 to 3) and BV (scores ≥7). Cervicovaginal fluid samples were used for measurements of hBDs1, 2 and 3 levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Levels of each hBD were compared between the two study groups using Mann-Whitney test, with p-value <0.05 considered as significant. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated for sociodemographic variables and hBD1-3 levels associated with BV a multivariable analysis. Correlation between Nugent score and measured levels of hBDs1-3 were calculated using Spearman’s test. Results Cervicovaginal fluids from women with BV showed lower levels of hBD-1 [median 2,400.00 pg/mL (0–27,800.00); p<0.0001], hBD-2 [5,600.00 pg/mL (0–45,800.00); p<0.0001] and hBD-3 [1,600.00 pg/mL (0–81,700.00); p = 0.012] when compared to optimal microbiota [hBD-1: [median 3,400.00 pg/mL (0–35,600.00), hBD-2: 12,300.00 pg/mL (0–95,300.00) and hBD-3: 3,000.00 pg/mL (0–64,300.00), respectively]. Multivariable analysis showed that lower levels of hBD-1 (OR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.46–2.87), hBD-2 (OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.32–2.60) and hBD-3 (OR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.37–2.64) were independently associated BV. Significant negative correlations were observed between Nugent scores and cervicovaginal levels of hBD-1 (Spearman’s rho = -0.2118; p = 0.0001) and hBD-2 (*Spearman’s rho = -0.2117; p = 0.0001). Conclusions Bacterial vaginosis is associated with lower cervicovaginal levels of hBDs1-3 in reproductive-aged women.