The analysis of cervicovaginal microbiota and immune mediators in patients with adenomyosis

Shcherbina M, Mykola Shcherbina, Potapova L, Liliya Potapova, Oksana Lipko, Lipko O, lrina Shcherbina, Shcherbina L, Anastasiia Chekhunova, Chekhunova A, Mertsalova O, Olga Mertsalova
Wiadomosci lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960) · 2026 · vol. 79(7) , pp. 1493–1499 · doi:10.36740/WLek/218754 · PMID:42748297
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Patients with adenomyosis exhibited disrupted cervicovaginal microflora, elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines and β-defensin-2 in lavage fluid, and increased serum IgG, IgM, and IgA antibody titers compared to healthy controls.

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This study investigated cervicovaginal microbiota and immune mediators in 115 women, comparing 85 patients with adenomyosis to 30 healthy controls. Researchers utilized PCR for infection detection, enzyme immunoassay for cytokine analysis, and nephelometry for serum antibody quantification. The results indicated that adenomyosis patients exhibited disrupted microflora with increased anaerobic species, elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, and higher serum IgG, IgM, and IgA levels. This paper is centrally about adenomyosis — specifically characterizing the associated alterations in local immune response and microbial composition.

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To determine and characterise changes associated with microbial, inflammatory and immune factors in patients with adenomyosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: 115 female patients were enrolled in the study, including 85 patients with adenomyosis and 30 healthy individuals. Vaginal cleanliness was assessed by collecting vaginal samples and plating on solid bacterial agar. Urogenital infections were determined by the PCR analysis of the cervicovaginal samples. The immunological characterisation was performed using enzyme immunoassay to analyse cervicovaginal lavage for β-defensin-2 and a defined set of cytokines. Antibody titers were quantified in patients' serum using nephelometry. RESULTS: Results: Patients with adenomyosis displayed disrupted cervicovaginal microflora that was characterised by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and antimicrobial peptide β-defensin-2. Serum analysis of patients with adenomyosis revealed higher concentration of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies compared to healthy control groups. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Analysis of inflammatory and immunological parameters in patients with adenomyosis revealed distinct features of the pathophysiology of adenomyosis. Specifically, patients with adenomyosis had disrupted cervicovaginal microflora with higher prevalence of anaerobic species. Furthermore, patients with adenomyosis had elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and interleukins in cervicovaginal lavage, and higher levels of IgG, IgM and IgA antibody serum titres. The analysis presented in the paper represents an important step towards determining precise diagnostic parameters and effective therapies to treat adenomyosis.
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Abstract

Aim: To determine and characterise changes associated with microbial, inflammatory and immune factors in patients with adenomyosis.

Material and methods

115 female patients were enrolled in the study, including 85 patients with adenomyosis and 30 healthy individuals. Vaginal cleanliness was assessed by collecting vaginal samples and plating on solid bacterial agar. Urogenital infections were determined by the PCR analysis of the cervicovaginal samples. The immunological characterisation was performed using enzyme immunoassay to analyse cervicovaginal lavage for β-defensin-2 and a defined set of cytokines. Antibody titers were quantified in patients’ serum using nephelometry.

Results

Patients with adenomyosis displayed disrupted cervicovaginal microflora that was characterised by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and antimicrobial peptide β-defensin-2. Serum analysis of patients with adenomyosis revealed higher concentration of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies compared to healthy control groups.

Conclusions

Analysis of inflammatory and immunological parameters in patients with adenomyosis revealed distinct features of the pathophysiology of adenomyosis. Specifically, patients with adenomyosis had disrupted cervicovaginal microflora with higher prevalence of anaerobic species. Furthermore, patients with adenomyosis had elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and interleukins in cervicovaginal lavage, and higher levels of IgG, IgM and IgA antibody serum titres. The analysis presented in the paper represents an important step towards determining precise diagnostic parameters and effective therapies to treat adenomyosis. To determine and characterise changes associated with microbial, inflammatory and immune factors in patients with adenomyosis.

Material and methods

115 female patients were enrolled in the study, including 85 patients with adenomyosis and 30 healthy individuals. Vaginal cleanliness was assessed by collecting vaginal samples and plating on solid bacterial agar. Urogenital infections were determined by the PCR analysis of the cervicovaginal samples. The immunological characterisation was performed using enzyme immunoassay to analyse cervicovaginal lavage for β-defensin-2 and a defined set of cytokines. Antibody titers were quantified in patients’ serum using nephelometry.

Results

Patients with adenomyosis displayed disrupted cervicovaginal microflora that was characterised by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and antimicrobial peptide β-defensin-2. Serum analysis of patients with adenomyosis revealed higher concentration of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies compared to healthy control groups.

Conclusions

Analysis of inflammatory and immunological parameters in patients with adenomyosis revealed distinct features of the pathophysiology of adenomyosis. Specifically, patients with adenomyosis had disrupted cervicovaginal microflora with higher prevalence of anaerobic species. Furthermore, patients with adenomyosis had elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and interleukins in cervicovaginal lavage, and higher levels of IgG, IgM and IgA antibody serum titres. The analysis presented in the paper represents an important step towards determining precise diagnostic parameters and effective therapies to treat adenomyosis. We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more). You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website. You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.

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MeSH descriptors

Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis

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SciLite annotations

organisms 2
microbiota uncultured rumen bacterium 125carro

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