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Updated: Jul 20, 2026
Use of Interferon-γ Enzyme-linked Immunospot Assay to Characterize Novel T-cell Epitopes of Human Papillomavirus
Published on: March 8, 2012
Study on human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, typing, peripheral blood immune factor expression and vaginal
Chong Sun1, He Diao1, Xinying Zhang2
1Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Central Hospital of Gynecology Obstetrics, Tianjin, 300199, China.
Background:
Cervical cancer (CC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, primarily driven by persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. This study explores HPV prevalence, genotypes, and their associations with peripheral blood immune factors and vaginal microenvironment balance in a CC screening population.
Methods:
A total of 2467 women undergoing CC screening from January to June 2024 were included. Among these, 227 tested positive for HPV (infection rate: 9.20 %). Using random sampling and propensity score matching, 100 HPV-positive and 100 HPV-negative individuals were selected. The HPV-positive group was further divided into HPV16/18 and other HPV subtypes. Samples from cervical cells, secretions, and peripheral blood were analyzed for HPV genotyping, vaginal microenvironment parameters (pH, cleanliness, Trichomonas, hydrogen peroxide-producing bacteria), Th1/Th2 cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α), and T cell subsets (CD4+, CD8+).
Results:
HPV-positive patients exhibited higher vaginal pH, abnormal vaginal cleanliness, and elevated hydrogen peroxide-producing bacteria compared to HPV-negative patients (P < 0.05). HPV16/18-positive individuals had greater vaginal alterations than other HPV subtypes. CD4+ counts and CD4+/CD8+ ratios were significantly lower in HPV-positive groups, especially HPV16/18, alongside elevated IL-6 and IL-10 levels (P < 0.05). CD8+ counts and TNF-α showed no significant differences (P > 0.05).
Conclusion:
HPV, particularly HPV16/18, is associated with immune imbalance and vaginal microenvironment disruptions, highlighting the need for tailored strategies to improve CC prevention and diagnosis.
