scholarly journals Innate immunity and disorders of the female reproductive tract

Reproduction ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 135 (6) ◽  
pp. 739-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew W Horne ◽  
Sarah J Stock ◽  
Anne E King
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Ectopic Pregnancy ◽  
Innate Immune System ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Intrauterine Infection ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Normal Female ◽  
Tubal Infertility ◽  
Sexually Transmitted

Sexually transmitted infections, and their associated sequelae, such as tubal infertility, ectopic pregnancy and preterm labour, are a major worldwide health problem. Chlamydia trachomatis infection is thought to be the leading global cause of tubal infertility and tubal ectopic pregnancy. Preterm birth occurs in around 10% of all deliveries, and nearly 30% of preterm deliveries are associated with intrauterine infection. The mucosal innate immune system of the female reproductive tract has evolved to eliminate such sexually transmitted pathogens whilst maintaining its ability to accommodate specialized physiological functions that include menstruation, fertilization, implantation, pregnancy and parturition. The aim of this review was to describe the role and distribution of key mediators of the innate immune system, the natural antimicrobial peptides (secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor, elafin and the defensins) and the pattern recognition toll-like receptors in the normal female reproductive tract and in the context of these pathological processes.

scholarly journals Selective Impact of HIV Disease Progression on the Innate Immune System in the Human Female Reproductive Tract

PLoS ONE ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. e38100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Lahey ◽  
Mimi Ghosh ◽  
John V. Fahey ◽  
Zheng Shen ◽  
Lucy R. Mukura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Innate Immune System ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Hiv Disease ◽  
Human Female

Antimicrobial peptides in the pathogenesis of infectious complications in obstetrics and gynecology

2014 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 73-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olesya Nikolaevna Ivashova ◽  
Olga Petrovna Lebedeva ◽  
Sergey Petrovich Pakhomov ◽  
Natal’ya Alexandrovna Rudyh ◽  
Marina Sergeevna Seliverstova
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Peptides ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Infectious Complications ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Cationic Peptides ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Angiogenic Effect

Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are cationic peptides of innate immune system with antiviral, antibacterial and antiprotozoal activity. AMP act as immunomodulators, promote bacterial opsonization, inhibit proteases activity, have anti-endotoxic and angiogenic effect. The review describes main types of AMPs, features of their expression in female reproductive tract depending from menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. Data about the role of AMPs in defending from sexually transmitted infections (HIV, genital herpes, HPV, gonorrhea), in pathogenesis of extrauterine pregnancy and preterm birth are described. Possibility of practical application of AMPs as alternative to antibiotics and as contraceptives is estimated.

scholarly journals T Cells in the Female Reproductive Tract Can Both Block and Facilitate HIV Transmission

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-40
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Miller ◽  
Ronald S. Veazey
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Diseases ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Central Importance ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Anti Hiv

Because HIV is sexually transmitted, there is considerable interest in defining the nature of anti-HIV immunity in the female reproductive tract (FRT) and in developing ways to elicit antiviral immunity in the FRT through vaccination. Although it is assumed that the mucosal immune system of the FRT is of central importance for protection against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, this arm of the immune system has only recently been studied. Here, we provide a brief review of the role of T cells in the FRT in blocking and facilitating HIV transmission.

Role of Sex Hormones in Regulating Innate Immune Protection against HIV in the Human Female Reproductive Tract

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-101
Author(s):  
Mickey V. Patel ◽  
Marta Rodríguez-García ◽  
Charles R. Wira
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Hormonal Changes ◽  
Immune Protection ◽  
Stromal Fibroblasts ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Adaptive Immune Cells

Immune protection in the female reproductive tract (FRT) has evolved to meet the challenges of sexually transmitted bacterial and viral pathogens, allogeneic spermatozoa, and an immunologically distinct semi-allogeneic fetus. Throughout the FRT, the innate immune system is essential for the recognition and initial response to incoming pathogens. Key mediators of innate immune protection examined in this review include epithelial cells, stromal fibroblasts, macrophages, DC, and neutrophils from the Fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vagina. These innate immune cells respond to pathogens resulting in the secretion of cytokines, chemokines, antimicrobials, and production of intracellular proteins that protect, activate and recruit both innate and adaptive immune cells. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can occur throughout the FRT, including the ovary, and is modulated by multiple factors including age of the individual, epithelial barrier integrity, composition of the vaginal microbiome, and hormonal status. Alterations in immune function due to hormonal changes that optimize conditions for successful fertilization create a hypothesized “window of vulnerability” that lasts from ovulation into the secretory stage of the menstrual cycle. The goal of this review is to summarize the multiple levels of protection against HIV infection in the FRT and thereby providing a foundation for the design of vaccines for protection against sexually-transmitted infections (STI) including HIV.

scholarly journals Non-Pulmonary Immune Functions of Surfactant Proteins A and D

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvia Ujma ◽  
William G.C. Horsnell ◽  
Arieh A. Katz ◽  
Howard W. Clark ◽  
Georgia Schäfer
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Innate Immune System ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
The Body ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Surfactant Proteins ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
Essential Components

Surfactant proteins A (SP-A) and D (SP-D) are established as essential components of our innate immune system for protecting the lung from pathogens and allergens. They essentially exert their protective functions by regulating pulmonary homeostasis. Both proteins are however widely expressed throughout the body, including the female reproductive tract, urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, the eye, ear, nasal compartment, central nervous system, the coronary artery and the skin. The functions of SP-A and SP-D at these sites are a relatively underinvestigated area, but it is emerging that both SP-A and SP-D contribute significantly to the regulation of inflammation and protection from infection at these sites. This review presents our current understanding of the roles of SP-A and SP-D in non-pulmonary sites.

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