ABSTRACT
Objective • To investigate the change of immune microenviroment in the lower genital tract of women who had early papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Methods • One hundred and twenty women infected with high-risk HPV were enrolled in the study, who were at the age of 25-46, with no cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN - III ) or cervical carcinoma. Twenty HPV-negative women were used as control, who did not have abnormal cervical squamous epithelial lesions screened by ThinPrep cytologic test. Vagina douche was collected, and the expression of T helper cell 17 (Th17)-related cytokines and interleukin 10 (IL-10)/IL-4 was tested by suspension micro phase protein chip technology. Results • The expression of IL-17, IL-6, TGF-β and IL-4 in HPV-positive patients was significantly higher than that in HPV-negative patients. The expression of IL-4 and IL-10 in HPV16/18-positive patients was significantly lower than that in patients infected with other HPV types. The expression of IL-17, IL-6 and TGF-β in patients with persistent HPV infection was insignificantly higher than that in patients with temporary HPV infection, while the expression of IL-17, IL-6 and TGF-β in patients with persistent HPV infection was significantly higher than that in HPV-negative patients. Conclusion • HPV infection can stimulate the body's immune response and change the local immune microenvironment in early stage. Th17 related cytokines are closely related to the persistent HPV infection. Maybe it can provide a new direction on the guidance of HPV treatment and prevention of persistent HPV infection.