Interferon profile of the mucosal immunity in women with papillomavirus infection

Papillomaviruses are a group of DNA viruses belonging to the Papillomavirida family. These viruses provoke pathological conditions manifesting with inflammation, exophytic masses, carcinogenesis, reproductive and perinatal disorders. Immune status is an essential factor de-termining the severity and duration of inflammatory diseases, the course of latent viral infections, including papillomavirus infection (PVI). The human immune system prevents the persistence, reactivation, and development of PVI clinical presentations. The cellular immune response is realized under the control of interferons (IFNs). Today, no complex studies on type 1, 2, or 3 IFNs in the cervical mucus of women with PVI associated with herpesvirus and chlamydia infec-tions are available. Aim: to compare IFN profile of mucosal immunity in women with PVI associated with herpesvirus and chlamydia infections. Patients and Methods: this study enrolled 149 women aged 25–44. Women were divided into four groups. Group 1 included women with PVI only (n=21). Group 2 included women with PVI and herpesvirus infection (n=47). Group 3 included women with PVI and chlamydia infec-tions (n=39). Group 4 included controls (n=30). Complex outpatient clinical laboratory examina-tion included clinical functional, biochemical, and immunological tests to detail pathophysiolog-ical mechanisms of urogenital PVIs. IFN (IFN-β, IFN-γ, IFN-λ1/IL-29, IFN-λ3/IL-28B) levels in the cervical mucus were measured by ELISA. Results: in all groups, IFN-λ3 and IFN-γ deficiencies were detected. In PVI, IFN-γ deficiency prevailed. In PVI associated with herpesvirus infection, IFN-λ3 deficiency prevailed. In PVI associated with chlamydia infection, a severe IFN-β deficiency was revealed. Conclusion: these patterns demonstrate a relevant role of the interferon arm of the im-mune response in the pathogenesis of isolated PVI and PVI associated with herpesvirus and chlamydia infections. These alterations in mucosal immunity support the prescription of immu-notherapy for these infections. KEYWORDS: human papillomavirus, herpesvirus infection, chlamydia infection, interferons, immune system, cervical mucus, mucosal immunity. FOR CITATION: Markelova E.V., Tulupova M.S., Nevezhkina T.A. et al. Interferon profile of the mucosal immunity in women with papillomavirus infection. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2022;6(2):67–71 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2022-6-2-67-71.