Mucosal integrity and inflammatory markers in the female lower genital tract as potential screening tools for vaginal microbicides
Su, H.I.; Schreiber, C.A.; Fay, C.; Parry, S.; Elovitz, M.A.; Zhang, J.; Shaunik, A.; Barnhart, K.
Contraception 84(5): 525-532
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 1879-0518 PMID: 22018129 DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2011.02.010Document Number: 226156
In the female genital tract, vaginal colposcopy, endometrial mucosal integrity and inflammatory mediators are potential in vivo biomarkers of microbicide and contraceptive safety. A randomized, blinded crossover trial of 18 subjects comparing effects of nonoxynol-9 vaginal gel (Gynol II; putative inflammatory gel), hydroxyethyl cellulose gel (HEC; putative inert gel) and no gel exposure on endometrial and vaginal epithelial integrity and endometrial and vaginal inflammatory markers [interleukin (IL) 1β, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, RANTES, tumor necrosis factor α, IL-1RA, IL-10, SLPI). Gynol II was associated with more vaginal lesions. No endometrial disruptions were observed across conditions. In the vagina, RANTES (p=.055) and IL-6 (p=.04) were higher after HEC exposure than at baseline. In the endometrium, IL-1β (p=.003) and IL-8 (p=.025) were lower after Gynol II cycles than after no gel. Gynol II and HEC may modulate inflammatory markers in the vagina and endometrium. How these changes relate to infection susceptibility warrants further study.
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