Matrix metalloproteinase and vagina

IL-17 is believed to be important for protection against extracellular pathogens, where clearance is dependent on neutrophil recruitment and local activation of epithelial cell defences. However, the role of IL-17 in protection against intracellular pathogens such as Chlamydia is less clear. We have compared (i) the course of natural genital tract C. muridarum infection, (ii) the development of oviduct pathology and (iii) the development of vaccine-induced immunity against infection in wild type (WT) BALB/c and IL-17 knockout mice (IL-17-/-) to determine if IL-17-mediated immunity is implicated in the development of infection-induced pathology and/or protection...

OBJECTIVE: Etiology of premature preterm rupture of membranes (PPROM) is not yet completely known and chorioamnionitis is one of the most important complications of its. We aimed to evaluate whether prolidase, matrix metalloproteinases, oxidative-antioxidative status, and inflammation markers in vaginal washing fluid (VWF) were associated with etiology of PPROM and whether these markers could be used to predict chorioamnionitis in PPROM. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective case control study enrolled fifty pregnant women with PPROM and 50 healthy pregnant women...

UNLABELLED: We evaluated levels of vaginal extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-8) in vaginal secretions in relation to the composition of vaginal bacterial communities and D- and L-lactic acid levels. The composition of vaginal bacterial communities in 46 women was determined by pyrosequencing the V1 to V3 region of 16S rRNA genes. Lactobacilli were dominant in 71.3% of the women, followed by Gardnerella (17.4%), Streptococcus (8...

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the expression of genes involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) biogenesis and remodeling in vaginal tissue of women with clinically normal pelvic floor support (defined as controls) according to the phase of menstrual cycle and postmenopausal women with and without pelvic organ prolapse (POP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study examined the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs), and the Lysyl oxidase (LOX) family genes in the anterior vaginal wall of Caucasian women by real-time RT-PCR...

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Little is known about dynamic cell-matrix interactions in the context of pathophysiology and treatments for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). This study sought to identify differences between fibroblasts from women with varying degrees of prolapse in reaction to mechanical stimuli and matrix substrates in vitro. METHODS: Fibroblasts from the vaginal wall of three patients with POP Quantification (POP-Q) system stages 0, II, and IV were stretched on artificial polymer substrates either coated or not coated with collagen I...

Mice deficient for the fibulin-5 gene (Fbln5(-/-)) develop pelvic organ prolapse (POP) due to compromised elastic fibers and upregulation of matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-9. Here, we used casein zymography, inhibitor profiling, affinity pull-down, and mass spectrometry to discover additional protease upregulated in the vaginal wall of Fbln5(-/-) mice, herein named V1 (25 kDa). V1 was a serine protease with trypsin-like activity similar to protease, serine (PRSS) 3, a major extrapancreatic trypsinogen, was optimum at pH 8...

The detection and identification of human biological fluids, including vaginal secretions and menstrual blood, are highly important in forensic biology. Previous studies have proposed a few mRNA and bacterial markers for vaginal fluid detection, but they have not proven to be specific and reliable. The aim of this project was to develop, validate and evaluate a reliable, specific test for vaginal fluid identification that would combine detection of vaginal mRNAs and Lactobacilli. We have developed a hexaplex that detects HBD1 (human beta-defensin 1), MUC4 (mucin 4), menstrual blood marker MMP11 (matrix metalloproteinase 11), housekeeping gene G6PDH (glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region of Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus gasseri/Lactobacillus johnsonii...

HIV binds specifically to the human mannose receptor (hMR) on vaginal epithelial cells that are devoid of a conventional CD4 receptor. HIV binding to hMR on vaginal epithelial cells induces the production of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) leading to degradation of the extracellular matrix, which may increase the risk of HIV entry into vaginal epithelial cells and further transmission into distal cells. Immunofluorescent localization of hMR on vaginal epithelial cells of seronegative females from the general population included the control group (n=52) and seronegative females from serodiscordant couples...

OBJECTIVE: To explore the forensic application value of detection of matrix metalloproteinase-11 (MMP-11) in menstrual blood by enhanced chemiluminescence method. METHODS: Menstrual blood, vaginal swab, peripheral blood, saliva stain, urine stain and semen stain were collected to detect whether or not there were MMP-11 using enhanced chemiluminescence method. The specificity and reliability of the MMP-11 assay along with its sensitivity were evaluated. RESULTS: The positive detection rate of MMP-11 in menstrual blood was 89...

To study pathological changes of fibromuscular system and the role of TGF-β1/Smad pathway in the urethra of a parturition-induced stress urinary incontinence (SUI) rat model. Twenty-eight 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley female rats at gestational day 16 were used and randomized into two groups: sham group and SUI group. After delivery, rats in the SUI group underwent postpartum vaginal balloon dilation and bilateral ovariectomy. 1 month after ovariectomy, urodynamics was assessed. Histological examination (Masson's trichrome stain, picrosirius red stain, Hart's elastin stain, Gordon & Sweet's stain, and immunohistochemical stain) and Western blot were performed on urethral tissues...

Preterm birth is a major public health problem in terms of loss of life, long-term and short term disabilities worldwide. The process of parturition (both term and preterm) involves intensive remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the placenta and fetal membranes by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Our previous studies show reduced docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in women delivering preterm. Further omega 3 fatty acids are reported to regulate MMP levels. This study was undertaken to examine the placental levels of MMPs and their association with placental DHA levels in women delivering preterm...

BACKGROUND: During sexual transmission of HIV in women, the virus breaches the multi-layered CD4 negative stratified squamous epithelial barrier of the vagina, to infect the sub-epithelial CD4 positive immune cells. However the mechanisms by which HIV gains entry into the sub-epithelial zone is hitherto unknown. We have previously reported human mannose receptor (hMR) as a CD4 independent receptor playing a role in HIV transmission on human spermatozoa. The current study was undertaken to investigate the expression of hMR in vaginal epithelial cells, its HIV gp120 binding potential, affinity constants and the induction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) downstream of HIV gp120 binding to hMR...

Temporal expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -2, -3, -7, -8, -9, -12, and -13, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs)-1 and -2 in human cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) in term pregnancy and labor was investigated. Term parous women provided CVF samples that were grouped into labor, 1 to 3, 6 to 8, and 12 to 16 days before labor onset. Both MMPs and TIMPs (n = 60) were quantified using multiplex solution array and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. Further analysis of TIMP-1 (n = 180) was undertaken...

In screening for epithelial ovarian cancer, unnecessary surgery can be reduced by limiting use of transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) to women with increasing CA125 serum levels. Replacing or augmenting TVU with measurement of a serum marker specific for malignancy might further improve screening performance. Serum samples from 112 invasive ovarian cancer patients and 706 matched control subjects from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian trial were used to evaluate human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), mesothelin, matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7), SLPI, Spondin2, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) for their potential use in screening...

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Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a disabling disorder in women characterized by a loss of pelvic floor support leading to the herniation of the uterus into or through the vagina. POP is a complex problem that likely involves multiple mechanisms, and available therapies are limited. In this issue of the JCI, Budatha et al. explore the dual role carried out by fibulin-5 in facilitating the assembly of normal elastic fibers and inhibiting MMP-9 activity, revealing a new mechanism critical to the maintenance of pelvic organ support...

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common condition affecting almost half of women over the age of 50. The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this condition, however, remain poorly understood. Here we have reported that fibulin-5, an integrin-binding matricellular protein that is essential for elastic fiber assembly, regulated the activity of MMP-9 to maintain integrity of the vaginal wall and prevented development of POP. In murine vaginal stromal cells, fibulin-5 inhibited the β1 integrin-dependent, fibronectin-mediated upregulation of MMP-9...

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the possible association of increased matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-1,-9 with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and to evaluate whether inflammatory processes contribute to its development. STUDY DESIGN: Forty women who underwent hysterectomy, 20 with POP grade 2 and above, and 20 without POP, participated in the study. Biopsies from the uterosacral ligaments and vaginal mucosa were obtained from each woman. Each biopsy was sectioned and stained for MMP-1 and MMP-9 by immunohistochemical methods and with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)...

Preterm labour and prematurity are still a main cause of perinatal morbidity nowadays. The aim of our study was to assess the role of MMP-8 as a predictive marker of preterm delivery. Four groups of patients were involved to the study: I - pregnant women at 24-34 weeks of gestation with any symptoms of threatened preterm labour; II - threatened preterm labour patients between 24-34 weeks of gestation; III - preterm vaginal delivery patients; IV - healthy term vaginal delivery patients. Serum concentration of total MMP-8 was measured using two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays...

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the hormonal profiles, histology of the vagina and biomolecular analysis of connective tissue of ewes with and without vaginal prolapse. Blood samples from the jugular vein and biopsies of the vaginal tissue were taken from five late term pregnant, unaffected animals, four sheep during parturition and six ewes suffering from vaginal prolapse ante partum. The blood samples were submitted for determining the concentration of the steroid hormones progesterone by automatic luminescence immunoassay and estradiol-17β by the sequence test...