The impact of cervical cytobrush sampling on cervico-vaginal immune parameters and microbiota relevant to HIV susceptibility

A Mohammadi, S Bagherichimeh, MC Perry, A Fazel… - Scientific Reports, 2020 - nature.com
A Mohammadi, S Bagherichimeh, MC Perry, A Fazel, E Tevlin, S Huibner, W Tharao…
Scientific Reports, 2020nature.com
The immunology and microbiota of the female genital tract (FGT) are key determinants of
HIV susceptibility. Cervical cytobrush sampling is a relatively non-invasive method
permitting the longitudinal assessment of endocervical immune cells, but effects on FGT
immunology are unknown. Blood, cervico-vaginal secretions and cervical cytobrushes were
collected from sexually transmitted infection (STI)-free women at baseline and after either 6
hours or 48 hours. Endocervical immune cell subsets were assessed by flow cytometry, and …
Abstract
The immunology and microbiota of the female genital tract (FGT) are key determinants of HIV susceptibility. Cervical cytobrush sampling is a relatively non-invasive method permitting the longitudinal assessment of endocervical immune cells, but effects on FGT immunology are unknown. Blood, cervico-vaginal secretions and cervical cytobrushes were collected from sexually transmitted infection (STI)-free women at baseline and after either 6 hours or 48 hours. Endocervical immune cell subsets were assessed by flow cytometry, and pro-inflammatory cytokines by multiplex ELISA. The density of Lactobacillus species and key bacterial vaginosis-associated bacterial taxa were determined by qPCR. Paired changes were assessed before and after cytobrush sampling. After 6 hours there were significant increases in CD4 + T cell, antigen presenting cell (APC) and neutrophil numbers; APC elevations persisted at 48 hours, while neutrophil and CD4 + T cell numbers returned to baseline. In addition, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were increased at 6 hours and returned to baseline by 48 hours. No significant changes were observed in the absolute abundance of Lactobacillus species or BV-associated bacteria at either time point. Overall, cytobrush sampling altered genital immune parameters at 6 hours, but only APC number increases persisted at 48 hours. This should be considered in longitudinal analyses of FGT immunology.
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