The proposed study aims to determine the expression of Interferon-ε (IFNε) in the female genital tract, which has never been mapped before in humans. High expression in other mammalian female reproductive tract (FRT) has been suggested to be important in anti-sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV immunity and its expression decreases with progestogen treatment. Future studies are planned to understand if hormonal contraceptives affect the presence of interferon in the healthy female genital tract, potentially changing the risk of for STI and HIV.
Objectives: 1. To optimize measurement protocols for IFNε and related biomarkers in samples from the female reproductive tract. 2. To quantify and characterize IFNε expression in the upper and lower genital tract and blood in normally cycling women during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Study design: This is a single site, parallel cross-sectional study Specific Aims: The aim of this study is to determine which "IFNε -related assays" can be performed on different types of FRT samples. The possible "IFNε-related assays" are: * IFNε messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT PCR) (requiring frozen tissue processed for RNA) * IFN Regulated Gene expression by qRT PCR, microarray or targeted gene set using Fluidigm platform (frozen tissue) * PR and ER gene expression (as above) * IFNε tissue protein levels\* (by immunoassay) and progesterone and estrogen receptors (PR/ER) by Western blotting (frozen tissue) * IFNε and Neopterin (a well characterized compound whose production can be stimulated by IFNs and whose specificity in this setting needs validation) or other IFNε-biomarkers\*\* by immunoassay in cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) fluids * Immunohistochemistry of IFNε, PR/ER, + other (e.g. cells, cytokines) (fixed tissue) * Studies of FRT samples from wild type and IFNε-/- mice would be used to first validate Neopterin as a "biomarker" of IFNε activity in the FRT; and microarray analyses may reveal other secreted proteins that may be used as "biomarkers" of IFNε activity.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
32
Reproductive tract and blood sampling will be performed at enrollment only in this cross-sectional parallel cohort study.
Center for Family Planning Research
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Interferon epsilon expression
Interferon epsilon expression will be assessed in the female reproductive tract and blood in women in the follicular phase of menses vs the luteal phase of menses in this cross-sectional study.
Time frame: baseline
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.