Characterization of low molecular weight antimicrobial peptide from human female reproductive tract.

Background & objectives: The mechanisms that protect female upper genital tract from ascending infection by microbes present in vagina are only partially understood. It is expected that epithelial cells in mucosal surfaces and their secretions directly interfere with microbial colonization and invasion. This study was aimed to demonstrate the expression of 2 kDa antimicrobial peptide which was identified and purified from female genital tract tissues using chromatographic techniques. Methods: Low molecular weight proteins were isolated from human female reproductive tract tissues obtained from premenopausal women. Antimicrobial activity of these LMW proteins was assessed against different reproductive tract pathogens viz., Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Group B streptococcus, Gardnerella vaginalis, Escherechia coli and Candida albicans. The expression of these peptides were also documented in reproductive tract tissues with the help of hyperimmune sera raised against the rabbits. The purified peptide was characterized by N-terminal sequencing. Results: Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence studies demonstrated that 2 kDa peptide was expressed in the stratified squamous epithelial cells of the ectocervix while it was absent in columnar epithelial cells of upper genital tract. Upregulation of the expression of this peptide was observed in patients of chronic non-specific cervicitis and acute on chronic cervicitis. This purified antimicrobial peptide also showed broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against different reproductive tract pathogens. Interpretation & conclusions: Considering the emerging bacterial resistance against conventional antibiotics, isolation and understanding of the expression of antimicrobial peptides from female reproductive tissue extracts may provide some leads towards the development of strategies for the treatment of reproductive tract infections.

Evidence of chlamydial infection in infertile women with fallopian tube obstruction.

The study was carried out to find the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis seropositivity among women with infertility of tubal origin. Forty women with tubal infertility (verified at hysterosalpingography and laproscopy), 20 women with infertility due to variety of other reasons and 20 healthy fertile women of reproductive age were enrolled in the study. It was found that the presence of Chlamydia specific IgG antibody was significantly higher (70%) in women with infertility of tubal origin as compared to 35% seropositivity in healthy fertile women and 55% seropositivity in infertile women with cause of infertility other than tubal factor. Seventy eight percent of women with frequency of coitus 3-4 times/week were seropositive as compared to 34.7% when frequency of coitus was 1-2 times/week. Study also showed the silent nature of this infection as history suggestive of past pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) was lacking in majority of the seropositive women (63.75%). In the study group, both the ends of the fallopian tubes (cornual and distal block) were involved with almost equal frequency. Eighty three percent of women with seropositivity had unilateral or bilateral hydrosalpinx and 75% of women had marked pelvic adhesions. These results support the fact that there is strong association between serum anti-Chlamydial antibodies and tubal factor as a cause of infertility in infertile women.