Human Papillomavirus Vaccine-Induced Cytokine Messenger RNA Expression in Vaccinated Women

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination on peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation and cytokine gene transcription. PBMCs isolated after HPV immunization were incubated with HPV vaccine, phytohemagglutinin, or buffer. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT reduction assay. RNA was extracted from PBMCs, and the relative concentration of cytokine messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts (IFN-β, IFN-γ, IL-12, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, or IL-10) relative to transcription of the β-actin gene was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. PBMC proliferation in response to HPV vaccine and PHA were greater than that observed in unstimulated cells (p<0.001). Cytokine mRNAs were upregulated in stimulated PBMC cultures. The median increase in vaccine-stimulated cultures was: IFN-β=334.4-fold; IL-12=46.33-fold; IFN-γ=12.64-fold; IL-6=9.07-fold; IL-17=7.33-fold; IL-10=6.47-fold; and TNF-α=2.36-fold. The IFN-β expression was significantly higher (p<0.05). Proliferative PBMC responses and multiple cytokine gene expression were detected in women who received the HPV vaccine.