Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor levels in cervicovaginal secretion of elderly women

Koichiro Shimoya, Qing Zhang, Kumiko Temma, Tadashi Kimura, Tomoko Tsujie, Tateki Tsutsui, Kenshi Wasada, Toru Kanzaki, Masayasu Koyama, Yuji Murata
In: Maturitas · 2005 · vol. 54(2) , pp. 141–148 · doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2004.02.019 · PMID:16289563 · W2006140635
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This study measured secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) levels in cervicovaginal secretions from elderly women.

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Abstract

ObjectiveSecretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is a potent inhibitor of human leukocyte elastase. The aim of the present study was to examine whether there is an association between the SLPI concentration in the cervicovaginal secretion (CS) and vaginal complaints of post-menopausal women.MethodsUterine cervix tissues and CS of peri- or post-menopausal women were obtained. SLPI was assayed by ELISA. To determine the level of SLPI mRNA and the localization of SLPI protein in the uterine cervix, we performed RT-PCR and immunochemical staining, respectively.ResultsThe levels of SLPI in the CS of post-menopausal women with vaginal complaints were significantly lower that those of post-menopausal women without vaginal complaints. The levels of SLPI in the CS of post-menopausal women were lower that those of peri-menopausal women and post-menopausal women treated with hormone replacement therapy. Positive staining was observed in epithelial cells of the cervix of elderly women, however, the intensity was weaker than that in peri-menopausal women. Positive staining was also observed in gland cells of the cervix of peri-menopausal women, but not in those of post-menopausal women. SLPI transcripts were detected in the cervix of post-menopausal women. The treatment of post-menopausal women with vaginal estrogen increased the concentrations of SLPI in CS of post-menopausal women.ConclusionsThe present findings suggest that the decreased amount of SLPI in the CS of post-menopausal women might be one of the causes of the symptoms of post-menopausal women and contribute to the immunodefense mechanisms of the elderly women.

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