AI Article Synopsis
- Scientists studied mucus plugs from pregnant women to see how they help protect against infections.
- They found that there were higher levels of specific antibodies (called IgG and IgA) in these mucus plugs compared to those from non-pregnant women.
- This indicates that mucus plugs might play an important role in defending against germs and keeping the baby safe from infections.
Article Abstract
Background: To characterize the potential for adaptive immune protection in cervical mucus plugs with respect to immunoglobulin isotypes and effector cells (phagocytes).
Methods: Thirty-one cervical mucus plugs were collected from healthy women in labor at term. The cervical mucus plugs were allocated either to analysis of immunoglobulins by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), gel chromatography and Western blotting (n = 20) or to microscopical, including immunocytochemical, analyses. The levels of immunoglobulin in the plugs were compared to the levels in 10 samples of ovulatory cervical mucus from nonpregnant women.
Results: In the cervical mucus plugs, levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) [median 3270 microg/mL (100-14 500)] and IgA [540 (22-2820)], but not IgM [30.5 (1.0-160)], were significantly elevated compared to cervical mucus from nonpregnant women (p < 0.02 for IgG and IgA). The IgG : IgA ratio in the plugs was also elevated (p < 0.02). The proportion of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) relative to total IgA in the plugs ranged from 16 to 65% (n = 5). IgA and IgG were largely intact. Microscopically, the vagina-proximal part of the cervical mucus plugs contained bacteria and was rich in cells, mainly phagocytes. Conversely, the uterine part contained few cells.
Conclusion: The high immunoglobulin levels in combination with the presence of phagocytes suggest a potential for adaptive immune defense in the cervical mucus plug, which, together with innate immune factors, may act as an immunological gatekeeper protecting the fetomaternal unit against infection from the vagina.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0001-6349.2005.00525.x | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Introduction: Invasive Stratified Mucin-producing Carcinoma (ISMC) of the cervix is a newly named cervical adenocarcinoma associated with Human Papilloma virus (HPV). Due to its relative rarity, clinical data, pathological features, and molecular characteristics of ISMC are still under exploration. This study aims to retrospectively analyze the clinical data and pathological features of ISMC patients, summarizing the clinical and pathological morphological characteristics of ISMC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEngrailed-2 (EN2) protein in cervical mucus: a novel biomarker for endometrial carcinoma.
Clin Transl Oncol
November 2024
Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Handian District, Beijing, China.
Objective: This study aims to demonstrate that the EN2 protein in cervical mucus may serve as a novel biomarker for screening endometrial cancer.
Materials And Methods: This study included 133 patients who were treated at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. According to the pathological results of hysteroscopy endometrial biopsy, the patients were divided into endometrial cancer group (n = 55), endometrial atypical hyperplasia group (n = 16), benign lesion group (n = 28), and control group (n = 34).
A multi-class support vector machine classification model based on 14 microRNAs for forensic body fluid identification.
Forensic Sci Int Genet
February 2025
Institute of Forensic Medicine, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) show promise for identifying body fluids in forensics due to their stability and unique expression patterns, but their relative expression makes identification challenging.
- The study validated reference genes and selected a combination of miRNAs to create a multi-class support vector machine (MSVM) model that predicts body fluid origins with high accuracy, even for aged or mixed samples.
- Further validation across different labs is needed before implementing miRNAs in routine forensic practice.
A technical note on the Kamranmeter; a manually operated device for measuring salivary spinnbarkeit.
Clin Oral Investig
November 2024
Department of Oral Biochemistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Objective: The objective was to develop a manually operatable, non-electric device to measure salivary spinnbarkeit for research, clinical and educational purposes.
Materials And Methods: A newly developed device, named the Kamranmeter, was built and evaluated in a pilot study, comparing the spinnbarkeit of unstimulated and chew-stimulated saliva samples from healthy volunteers. The Neva Meter, which operates on electrical resistance, was used as a reference standard.
Towards the identification of body fluids using RT-LAMP isothermal amplification coupled with CRISPR-Cas12a.
Forensic Sci Int Genet
January 2025
Forensic Research and Development Team, Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand.
While often necessary in sexual assault cases, confirmatory identification of body fluids can be a lengthy and/or costly process. In particular, the detection of vaginal fluid and menstrual fluid in forensic casework is limited to endpoint reverse-transcription PCR to detect fluid-specific messenger RNA (mRNA) markers as there are no robust chemical or enzymatic techniques available for these fluids. Similarly, testing for rectal mucosa is not possible with standard methods, the presence of which would provide probative value in cases of alleged anal penetration, although mRNA-based markers have recently been described.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!