Relationship between a toll-like receptor-4 gene polymorphism, bacterial vaginosis-related flora and vaginal cytokine responses in pregnant women. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • OBJECTIVE: The relationship between a single nucleotide polymorphism (TLR4 896 A > G) in the toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) gene, qualitative and quantitative changes in vaginal micro-flora and vaginal interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) concentrations in pregnant women were evaluated. STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative and quantitative microbial methods were used to characterize vaginal micro-flora of 238 women at 18-22 weeks gestation. Polymerase chain reaction was used to determine TLR4 genotype. IL-1beta and IL-1ra concentrations in vaginal lavage samples were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The TLR4 variant was identified in 10.3% of women. Carriage of this variant was associated with a median increase in vaginal pH (P = 0.05), a greater than 10-fold increase in vaginal Gardnerella vaginalis levels (P < 0.0001) and a 10-fold increase in the vaginal concentration of three species of anaerobic Gram-negative rods, Prevotella, Bacteroides, and Porphyromonas (P = 0.08 ). Colonization with G. vaginalis and/or the anaerobic Gram-negative rods resulted in elevated vaginal IL-1 (P = 0.01) and IL-1ra (P < 0.0002) concentrations in women who were TLR4 896A homozygotes, but not in TLR4 896G carriers. CONCLUSION: The TLR4 896 A > G polymorphism contributes to inter-individual differences in the vaginal immune defense against G. vaginalis and anaerobic Gram-negative rods.

publication date

  • October 15, 2004

Research

keywords

  • Interleukin-1
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1
  • Vaginosis, Bacterial

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 4444223628

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2004.02.010

PubMed ID

  • 15358455

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 116

issue

  • 2