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Isolation of Dendritic Cells from the Human Female Reproductive Tract for Phenotypical and Functional Studies

Isolation of Dendritic Cells from the Human Female Reproductive Tract for Phenotypical and Functional Studies

Published on: March 13, 2018

Genital inflammatory status and the innate immune response to contraceptive initiation

Nina Radzey¹, Rushil Harryparsad¹, Bahiah Meyer¹

¹Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

American Journal of Reproductive Immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989)

|April 8, 2022

Abstract

Problem:

Data on the effects of contraceptives on female genital tract (FGT) immune mediators are inconsistent, possibly in part due to pre-existing conditions that influence immune mediator changes in response to contraceptive initiation.

Methods:

This study included 161 South African women randomised to injectable depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM), copper intrauterine device (IUD), or levonorgestrel (LNG) implant in the Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes (ECHO) trial. We measured thirteen cytokines and antimicrobial peptides previously associated with HIV acquisition in vaginal swabs using Luminex and ELISA, before, and at 1 and 3 months after contraceptive initiation. Women were grouped according to an overall baseline inflammatory profile. We evaluated modification of the relationships between contraceptives and immune mediators by baseline inflammation, demographic, and clinical factors.

Results:

Overall, LNG implant and copper IUD initiation were associated with increases in inflammatory cytokines, while no changes were observed following DMPA-IM initiation. However, when stratifying by baseline inflammatory profile, women with low baseline inflammation in all groups experienced significant increases in inflammatory cytokines, while those with a high baseline inflammatory profile experienced no change or decreases in inflammatory cytokines.

Conclusion:

We conclude that pre-contraceptive initiation immune profile modifies the effect of contraceptives on the FGT innate immune response.

Keywords:

contraception copper cytokines female inflammation intrauterine devices levonorgestrel medroxyprogesterone acetate

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