Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026

Protocols for Vaginal Inoculation and Sample Collection in the Experimental Mouse Model of Candida vaginitis
Published on: December 8, 2011
Altered CD16 expression on vaginal neutrophils from women with vaginitis
Joziani Beghini1, Paulo C Giraldo, Ruth Riboldi
1Departamento de Tocoginecologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Campinas University, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Objective:
Reduced CD16 expression is associated with neutrophil apoptosis. This study aimed to compare CD16 expression on neutrophils in the vagina from women with normal bacterial flora and with vaginitis.
Study Design:
Vaginal lavages were sampled from volunteers diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis (BV, n=34), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VC, n=43), BV plus VC (BV+VC, n=14), and normal flora (NF, n=51). Neutrophils were identified by expression of CD15, CD16 and CD24 surface markers as assessed by flow cytometry.
Results:
CD16 expression was elevated in neutrophils from women with vaginitis (BV p<0.0001; VC p=0.01; BV+VC p=0.0027) as compared to women with NF.
Conclusion:
The reduction in CD16 down-regulation is consistent with prolonged neutrophil viability and activity in the vagina of women with vaginitis. This may contribute to greater microbial clearance and, conversely, with inflammation-associated pathology.
Related Concept Videos
Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract
Vagina
Disorders of the Female Reproductive System

