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Nasr MA, Aldous A, Daniels J, Joy C, Capozzi E, Yang M, Moriarty P, Emmanuel-Baker V, Malcolm S, Green SJ, Gomez-Lobo V, Ghosh M. Effect of progestin-based contraceptives on HIV-associated vaginal immune biomarkers and microbiome in adolescent girls. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306237. [PMID: 39008499 PMCID: PMC11249223 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Adolescent girls bear a disproportionate burden of both the HIV epidemic and unintended pregnancies; yet important questions remain unanswered regarding the effects of hormonal contraceptives on the vaginal immune microenvironment, which can impact HIV susceptibility in this group. Multiple studies report genital immune alterations associated with the progestin-based contraceptive Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) in adult women, but there is little available data in adolescents. The objective of this longitudinal cohort study was to evaluate the effects of short-term use of three progestin-based contraceptives, levonorgestrel intrauterine device (LNG-IUD), subdermal etonogestrel (ETNG), and injectable DMPA, on HIV-associated vaginal immune biomarkers and microbiome in adolescent girls. Fifty-nine sexually active, HIV-uninfected girls aged 15-19, were recruited from the Washington DC metro area and self-selected into Control (condoms only), combined oral contraceptive pills, LNG-IUD, ETNG and DMPA groups. Vaginal swabs were collected at baseline prior to contraceptive use and at 3-month follow-up visit. Vaginal secretions were tested for pro-inflammatory (IL-1α, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, MIP-3α, IP-10, RANTES, MIP-1α, MIP-1β) and anti-inflammatory/anti-HIV (Serpin-A1, Elafin, Beta-Defensin-2, SLPI) immune biomarkers using ELISA and for anti-HIV activity using TZM-bl assay. Vaginal microbiome was evaluated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Data were analyzed using SAS Version 9. Among the 34 participants who completed both visits, no significant changes in median biomarker concentrations, HIV inhibition and microbiome composition were observed between baseline and follow-up visits for any of the contraceptive groups. IL-8 (p<0.01), MIP-3α (0.02), Elafin (p = 0.03) and RANTES (p<0.01) differed significantly by race whereas IL-6 was significantly different by age (p = 0.03). We conclude that 3-month use of LNG-IUD, ETNG and DMPA have minimal effects on adolescent vaginal immune microenvironment, and therefore unlikely to impact HIV risk. Future studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up are recommended to continue to evaluate effects of contraceptives on the lower genital tract immunity and susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélodie A. Nasr
- Department of Epidemiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Annette Aldous
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Jason Daniels
- Department of Epidemiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Christopher Joy
- Department of Epidemiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Eleanor Capozzi
- Department of Epidemiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Michelle Yang
- Department of Epidemiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Patricia Moriarty
- MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | | | - Sharyn Malcolm
- Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Stefan J. Green
- Genomics and Microbiome Core Facility, Rush University, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Veronica Gomez-Lobo
- MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States of America
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Mimi Ghosh
- Department of Epidemiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
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Zhang J, Yan M, Ji A, Sun Q, Ying W. Mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis of biological stains identifies body fluids specific markers. Forensic Sci Int 2024; 357:112008. [PMID: 38522320 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2024.112008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
The identification of biological stains and their tissue resource is an important part of forensic research. Current methods suffer from several limitations including poor sensitivity and specificity, trace samples, and sample destruction. In this study, we profiled the proteomes of menstrual blood, peripheral blood, saliva, semen, and vaginal fluid with mass spectrometry technology. Tissue-enhanced and tissue-specific proteins of each group have been proposed as potential biomarkers. These candidate proteins were further annotated and screened through the combination with the Human Protein Atlas database. Our data not only validates the protein biomarkers reported in previous studies but also identifies novel candidate biomarkers for human body fluids. These candidates lay the foundation for the development of rapid and specific forensic examination methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhang
- MPS's Key Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, National Engineering Laboratory for Crime Scene Evidence Investigation and Examination, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security (MPS), Beijing 100038, China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Anquan Ji
- MPS's Key Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, National Engineering Laboratory for Crime Scene Evidence Investigation and Examination, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security (MPS), Beijing 100038, China
| | - Qifan Sun
- MPS's Key Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, National Engineering Laboratory for Crime Scene Evidence Investigation and Examination, Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Public Security (MPS), Beijing 100038, China.
| | - Wantao Ying
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China.
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Lund JM, Hladik F, Prlic M. Advances and challenges in studying the tissue-resident T cell compartment in the human female reproductive tract. Immunol Rev 2023; 316:52-62. [PMID: 37140024 PMCID: PMC10524394 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM ) are considered to be central to maintaining mucosal barrier immunity and tissue homeostasis. Most of this knowledge stems from murine studies, which provide access to all organs. These studies also allow for a thorough assessment of the TRM compartment for each tissue and across tissues with well-defined experimental and environmental variables. Assessing the functional characteristics of the human TRM compartment is substantially more difficult; thus, notably, there is a paucity of studies profiling the TRM compartment in the human female reproductive tract (FRT). The FRT is a mucosal barrier tissue that is naturally exposed to a wide range of commensal and pathogenic microbes, including several sexually transmitted infections of global health significance. We provide an overview of studies describing T cells within the lower FRT tissues and highlight the challenges of studying TRM cells in the FRT: different sampling methods of the FRT greatly affect immune cell recovery, especially of TRM cells. Furthermore, menstrual cycle, menopause, and pregnancy affect FRT immunity, but little is known about changes in the TRM compartment. Finally, we discuss the potential functional plasticity of the TRM compartment during inflammatory episodes in the human FRT to maintain protection and tissue homeostasis, which are required to ensure reproductive fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Lund
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195
| | - Florian Hladik
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195
| | - Martin Prlic
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109
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4
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Armstrong E, Kaul R, Cohen CR. Optimizing the vaginal microbiome as a potential strategy to reduce heterosexual HIV transmission. J Intern Med 2023; 293:433-444. [PMID: 36544257 DOI: 10.1111/joim.13600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a proinflammatory genital condition characterized by high vaginal bacterial diversity and a paucity of Lactobacillus species. BV has been linked to an elevated risk of HIV acquisition among HIV-negative women and of forward HIV transmission to male sex partners among women living with HIV (adjusted hazard ratios of 1.69 and 3.17, respectively), potentially by eliciting genital inflammation in women with BV and their male sex partners. BV is also highly prevalent among women in sub-Saharan Africa, suggesting that BV treatment may have potential as an HIV prevention strategy. BV is typically treated with antibiotics but recurrence rates are high, possibly because treatment does not directly promote Lactobacillus growth. More recently, BV treatment strategies incorporating live biotherapeutic lactobacilli have led to sustained optimization of the vaginal microbiome and a decrease in inflammatory biomarkers previously associated with HIV susceptibility. Future studies are urgently needed to evaluate BV treatment strategies that can optimize the vaginal microbiome in the long term through colonization with H2 O2 -producing vaginal lactobacilli and to assess whether vaginal microbiota optimization is able to reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Armstrong
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rupert Kaul
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Craig R Cohen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
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Hughes SM, Levy CN, Calienes FL, Martinez KA, Selke S, Tapia K, Chohan BH, Oluoch L, Kiptinness C, Wald A, Ghosh M, Hardy L, Ngure K, Mugo NR, Hladik F, Roxby AC. Starting to have sexual intercourse is associated with increases in cervicovaginal immune mediators in young women: a prospective study and meta-analysis. eLife 2022; 11:e78565. [PMID: 36281966 PMCID: PMC9596159 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are at high risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It is unknown whether beginning to have sexual intercourse results in changes to immune mediators in the cervicovaginal tract that contribute to this risk. Methods We collected cervicovaginal lavages from Kenyan AGYW in the months before and after first penile-vaginal sexual intercourse and measured the concentrations of 20 immune mediators. We compared concentrations pre- and post-first sex using mixed effect models. We additionally performed a systematic review to identify similar studies and combined them with our results by meta-analysis of individual participant data. Results We included 180 samples from 95 AGYW, with 44% providing only pre-first sex samples, 35% matched pre and post, and 21% only post. We consistently detected 19/20 immune mediators, all of which increased post-first sex (p<0.05 for 13/19; Holm-Bonferroni-adjusted p<0.05 for IL-1β, IL-2, and CXCL8). Effects remained similar after excluding samples with STIs and high Nugent scores. Concentrations increased cumulatively over time after date of first sex, with an estimated doubling time of about 5 months.Our systematic review identified two eligible studies, one of 93 Belgian participants, and the other of 18 American participants. Nine immune mediators were measured in at least two-thirds of studies. Meta-analysis confirmed higher levels post-first sex for 8/9 immune mediators (p<0.05 for six mediators, most prominently IL-1α, IL-1β, and CXCL8). Conclusions Cervicovaginal immune mediator concentrations were higher in women who reported that they started sexual activity. Results were consistent across three studies conducted on three different continents. Funding This research was funded by R01 HD091996-01 (ACR), by P01 AI 030731-25 (Project 1) (AW), R01 AI116292 (FH), R03 AI154366 (FH) and by the Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) of the University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center AI027757.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean M Hughes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Claire N Levy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Fernanda L Calienes
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleUnited States
| | - Katie A Martinez
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Stacy Selke
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Kenneth Tapia
- Department of Global Health, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Bhavna H Chohan
- Department of Global Health, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
- Centre for Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research InstituteNairobiKenya
| | - Lynda Oluoch
- Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research InstituteNairobiKenya
| | | | - Anna Wald
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleUnited States
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
- Department of Medicine, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
- Department of Epidemiology, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Mimi Ghosh
- Department of Epidemiology, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington UniversityWashingtonUnited States
| | - Liselotte Hardy
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Unit of Tropical Bacteriology, Institute of Tropical MedicineAntwerpBelgium
| | - Kenneth Ngure
- Department of Global Health, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
- Department of Community Health, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and TechnologyNairobiKenya
| | - Nelly R Mugo
- Department of Global Health, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
- Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research InstituteNairobiKenya
| | - Florian Hladik
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleUnited States
- Department of Medicine, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - Alison C Roxby
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research CenterSeattleUnited States
- Department of Global Health, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
- Department of Medicine, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
- Department of Epidemiology, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
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