The pathophysiology of vaginal conditions is still
ill-defined at a molecular level. Because the proteome of
the human cervical-vaginal fluid (CVF) has not been
reported to date, we undertook the identification of
proteins present in the cell-free fraction of these fluids.
Proteins were separated bidimensionally (2-D) by isoelectrofocusing
(pH 3-11) followed by SDS-polyacrylamide
electrophoresis. The proteins of 147 spots were identified
by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization-time-offlight-
mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF). This approach
was supplemented by immunoassays for markers
of neutrophils (myeloperoxidase, MPO; neutrophil gelatinase-
associated lipocalin, NGAL/HNL) and eosinophils
(eosinophil cationic protein: ECP) and by immunoblotting
(lactoferrin, calgranulins A and B and annexins A1 and
A3. Nearly half of the proteins (69/147) and protein
fragments detected were found to be plasma components,
on the basis of which the human CVF can be
broadly considered a plasma transudate. Although the
pattern of protein spots was very similar for all fluids
analyzed, a relative overabundance of major plasma
proteins such as albumin, transferrin, immunoglobulins,
apolipoproteins, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein 1, and calgranulins
was associated with the presence of a high
number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the lavages
from which those cell-free fluids had been obtained.
Instead, fluids from women experiencing vulvovaginal
candidiasis did not show differences in the protein maps
compared with asymptomatic individuals. Neutrophil and
eosinophil granule secretion proteins were also detected
in variable amounts in the lavage fluids by both immunoassay
and immunoblotting, indicating polymorphonuclear
cell activation.
Keywords: cervical-vaginal fluid ¥ plasma proteins ¥ neutrophil
and eosinophil activation
