The Effects of Hormones and Vaginal Microflora on the Glycome of the Female Genital Tract: Cervical-Vaginal Fluid

• Published in: PloS one 2016-07, Vol.11 (7), p.e0158687-e0158687
• Main Authors: Moncla, Bernard J, Chappell, Catherine A, Debo, Brian M, Meyn, Leslie A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; alpha-Galactosidase - metabolism; Bacteria; beta-Galactosidase - metabolism; Binding sites; Biology; Biology and Life Sciences; Body Fluids - enzymology; Carbohydrates; Cell adhesion & migration; Cervix; Cervix mucus; Cervix Mucus - enzymology; Contraception; Data interpretation; Data processing; Environmental changes; Enzymes; Female; Female genitalia; Galactosidase; Gardnerella vaginalis; Genital tract; Genitalia, Female - enzymology; Genitalia, Female - microbiology; Genitalia, Female - pathology; Glucosidase; Glycosidases; Glycoside Hydrolases - metabolism; Gynecology; Hormones; Hormones - metabolism; Humans; Immunity; Influenza; Innate immunity; Lectins; Lectins - pharmacology; Mannose; Medicine and Health Sciences; Menstrual cycle; Menstrual Cycle - metabolism; Microbiota; Microorganisms; Mucin; Mucin-1 - metabolism; Mucin-4 - metabolism; Mucin-5B - metabolism; Mucins; Mucins - metabolism; Mucus; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid - metabolism; Neuraminidase - metabolism; Obstetrics; Pathogenesis; Pathogens; Physical Sciences; Physiological aspects; Post-menopause; Proteins; Quantitation; Reproductive system; Salivary Proteins and Peptides - metabolism; Sambucus nigra; Vagina; Vagina - metabolism; Vagina - microbiology; Vagina - pathology; Vaginal discharge; Vaginosis; Vaginosis, Bacterial - enzymology; Vaginosis, Bacterial - microbiology; Vaginosis, Bacterial - pathology; Viruses; Viscoelasticity; α-Glucosidase; β-Galactosidase
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158687

In this study, we characterized the glycome of cervical-vaginal fluid, collected with a Catamenial cup. We quantified: glycosidase levels; sialic acid and high mannose specific lectin binding; mucins, MUC1, MUC4, MUC5AC, MUC7; and albumin in the samples collected. These data were analyzed in the context of hormonal status (day of menstrual cycle, hormonal contraception use) and role, if any, of the type of the vaginal microflora present. When the Nugent score was used to stratify the subjects by microflora as normal, intermediate, or bacterial vaginosis, several important differences were observed. The activities of four of six glycosidases in the samples from women with bacterial vaginosis were significantly increased when compared to normal or intermediate women: sialidase, P =