Authors

C. R. Eade; C. Diaz; M. P. Wood; K. Anastos; B. K. Patterson; P. Gupta; A. L. Cole;A. M. Cole

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

PLoS One

Keywords

HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE PRODUCTION; ATOPOBIUM-VAGINAE; GARDNERELLA-VAGINALIS; IMMUNE-RESPONSE; CYTOKINE LEVELS; JAPANESE WOMEN; GENITAL-TRACT; LACTOBACILLI; INNATE; ACQUISITION; Multidisciplinary Sciences

Abstract

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most commonly treated female reproductive tract affliction, characterized by the displacement of healthy lactobacilli by an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria. BV can contribute to pathogenic inflammation, preterm birth, and susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections. As the bacteria responsible for BV pathogenicity and their interactions with host immunity are not understood, we sought to evaluate the effects of BV-associated bacteria on reproductive epithelia. Here we have characterized the interaction between BV-associated bacteria and the female reproductive tract by measuring cytokine and defensin induction in three types of FRT epithelial cells following bacterial inoculation. Four BV-associated bacteria were evaluated alongside six lactobacilli for a comparative assessment. While responses differed between epithelial cell types, our model showed good agreement with clinical BV trends. We observed a distinct cytokine and human beta-defensin 2 response to BV-associated bacteria, especially Atopobium vaginae, compared to most lactobacilli. One lactobacillus species, Lactobacillus vaginalis, induced an immune response similar to that elicited by BV-associated bacteria, stimulating significantly higher levels of cytokines and human beta-defensin 2 than other lactobacilli. These data provide an important prioritization of BV-associated bacteria and support further characterization of reproductive bacteria and their interactions with host epithelia. Additionally, they demonstrate the distinct immune response potentials of epithelial cells from different locations along the female reproductive tract.

Journal Title

Plos One

Volume

7

Issue/Number

11

Publication Date

1-1-2012

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

11

WOS Identifier

WOS:000311272300089

ISSN

1932-6203

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