American Journal of Reproductive Immunology最新文献

{"title":"Proinflammatory and Antiangiogenic Effects of Gingival Crevicular Fluid on Placental and Immune Cells: Implications for Oxidative Stress and NET Formation in Pregnancy","authors":"Luciana Doga,&nbsp;Brenda Lara,&nbsp;Guillermina Calo,&nbsp;Luciana R. D'Eramo,&nbsp;Laura Gliosca,&nbsp;Sofía Novoa,&nbsp;Ariana Santillán,&nbsp;Luisina Cicerchia,&nbsp;Iñaki Loureiro,&nbsp;M. Celia Cutrera,&nbsp;Verónica Dubois,&nbsp;Rosanna Ramhorst,&nbsp;Pablo Fabiano,&nbsp;Vanesa Hauk,&nbsp;Aldo F. Squassi,&nbsp;Claudia Pérez Leiros","doi":"10.1111/aji.70281","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aji.70281","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Problem</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>An association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes, with high risk for the mother and the newborn, has been widely documented. So far, the mechanisms linking gingival inflammation to placental dysfunction remain poorly defined.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods of Study</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In this study, we aimed to investigate whether bioactive inflammatory components in the gingival crevicular fluid are capable of modulating placental and immune cells in vitro and to analyse whether these effects correlate with periodontal parameters. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 37 pregnant women undergoing caesarean section, evaluating their gingival inflammatory condition and collecting gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) within 24 h of delivery. GCF samples were assayed on placental explants, vascular endothelial cells, and neutrophils in vitro to determine inflammatory and functional profiles.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The GCF from pregnant women induced a proinflammatory response in placental tissue and an antiangiogenic effect on endothelial cells. Neutrophils exposed to the GCF samples of pregnant women showed increased production of reactive oxygen species and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. The extent of the inflammatory response correlated with the degree of the maternal gingival inflammatory condition.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings suggest that components present in the GCF induce inflammatory stress even in normal pregnancies. Their potential contribution to periodontal disease-associated complications requires further studies. The present work highlights the value of integrating oral health into prenatal care and offers new experimental approaches to monitor systemic effects of periodontal disease during pregnancy.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Trail Registration</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This was an observational human study and was not registered in a public clinical trial/study registry.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7665,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Reproductive Immunology","volume":"96 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148374063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comment on “Assessing the Impact of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting on Genital Inflammation and Microbiota Among Kenyan Female sex Workers”","authors":"Sachin Kumar,&nbsp;Nirupma Gupta,&nbsp;Sujeet Kumar Singh,&nbsp;Hariharan Srinivasan,&nbsp;Varshini Vadhithala,&nbsp;Sushma Narsing Katkuri,&nbsp;Brajgopal Kushwaha","doi":"10.1111/aji.70283","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aji.70283","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7665,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Reproductive Immunology","volume":"96 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148366703","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First-Trimester Maternal CALLY Index Is Associated With Fetal Growth Restriction.","authors":"Esra Karakus, Ali Furkan Yahsi, Kubra Katipoglu","doi":"10.1111/aji.70301","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aji.70301","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a major cause of perinatal morbidity and is frequently associated with placental malperfusion related to inflammatory and immune dysregulation. This study evaluated whether the first-trimester maternal C-reactive protein-albumin-lymphocyte (CALLY) index, a composite marker reflecting systemic inflammation, nutritional status, and immune competence, is associated with subsequent FGR.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective case-control study included 105 singleton pregnancies (69 FGR cases and 36 controls) at a tertiary center. FGR was diagnosed according to Delphi consensus criteria. The first-trimester CALLY index was calculated as (albumin × lymphocyte count) / CRP. Placental histopathology was evaluated according to the Amsterdam Placental Workshop Group criteria. Group comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square or Fisher's exact test, and diagnostic performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The CALLY index was significantly lower in the FGR group compared with controls (0.065 vs 0.170, p < 0.001). FGR cases also had lower birthweight (1910 vs 3120 g, p < 0.001) and placental weight (344.5 vs 585 g, p < 0.001). Maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM) was more frequent in the FGR group (39.1% vs 13.9%, p = 0.015), while fetal vascular malperfusion (FVM) showed borderline significance (63.8% vs 41.7%, p = 0.050). ROC analysis demonstrated modest discriminatory ability for identifying FGR (AUC = 0.739, 95% CI: 0.652-0.826). A CALLY threshold ≤0.1265 yielded 75.4% sensitivity and 66.7% specificity. After adjustment for maternal age, low CALLY remained significantly associated with FGR (adjusted OR: 6.118, 95% CI: 2.529-14.799, p < 0.001). Early-onset FGR cases (≤34 weeks) showed the lowest CALLY values (0.051). Additional ROC analyses for placental malperfusion endpoints showed limited discriminatory ability (AUCs: 0.592-0.636), indicating that CALLY is not a reliable standalone predictor of placental pathology.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A low first-trimester maternal CALLY index is associated with subsequent FGR. Its modest discriminatory ability for FGR (AUC = 0.739) suggests it may serve as a complementary tool in multi-parameter risk assessment, particularly when integrated with clinical and sonographic findings. However, the limited performance for placental malperfusion endpoints indicates that CALLY should not be used as a standalone test for predicting placental pathology. Further prospective studies are needed to define its clinical role.</p>","PeriodicalId":7665,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Reproductive Immunology","volume":"96 1","pages":"e70301"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13401091/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148583371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the Hemoglobin, Albumin, Lymphocyte, and Platelet Score and Inflammatory Markers in Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes.","authors":"Çiğdem Akçabay, Dilara Duygulu Bulan, Batuhan Tepe, Melisa Golgelioglu, Salih Burçin Kavak","doi":"10.1111/aji.70303","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aji.70303","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Problem: </strong>To evaluate the hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score and its relationship with inflammatory markers in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), and to assess their association with gestational age and neonatal outcomes.</p><p><strong>Method of study: </strong>This retrospective study included 226 pregnant women diagnosed with PPROM between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation between 2023 and 2026. Patients were categorized according to gestational age at diagnosis as early PPROM (24 + 0 to < 32 + 0 weeks) and late PPROM (32 + 0 to 34 + 0 weeks). Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected, including C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII). The HALP score was calculated using routine laboratory parameters. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to evaluate the ability of the HALP score and inflammatory markers to identify early PPROM. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of adverse neonatal outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Patients in the early PPROM group delivered at significantly earlier gestational ages, had lower birth weights, and had longer latency periods than those in the late PPROM group (all p < 0.001). Inflammatory markers, including CRP, NLR, PLR, and SII, were higher in the early PPROM group, whereas hemoglobin, lymphocyte levels, and HALP scores were lower (all p < 0.05). Adverse neonatal outcomes were more frequent in the early PPROM group than in the late PPROM group (53.5% vs. 20.6%, p < 0.001). ROC analysis demonstrated that CRP had the highest diagnostic performance (AUC: 0.663), followed by SII and NLR, whereas HALP showed modest discriminative ability (AUC: 0.632). In multivariate analysis, only gestational age at diagnosis was identified as an independent predictor of adverse neonatal outcome.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The HALP score and inflammatory markers were associated with earlier gestational age at PPROM diagnosis, suggesting a relationship with inflammatory and immunonutritional status. However, their ability to predict adverse neonatal outcomes was limited, and gestational age remained the primary determinant of neonatal prognosis. Therefore, HALP may be considered a complementary biomarker rather than a standalone prognostic tool.</p>","PeriodicalId":7665,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Reproductive Immunology","volume":"96 1","pages":"e70303"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13401086/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148583392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Targeting Long Noncoding RNA LUCAT1 Alleviates Insulin Resistance of Ovarian Granulosa Cells in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome by Blocking HMGB1-Mediated Autophagy","authors":"Jing Pan,&nbsp;Riyangul. kurban,&nbsp;Xiaoli Bo","doi":"10.1111/aji.70278","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aji.70278","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Problem</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Dysfunctional autophagy in ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) represents a key pathological feature of insulin resistance (IR) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), though regulatory roles of autophagy-associated lncRNAs remain poorly characterized.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method of Study</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Comparing GCs from IR-PCOS patients, non-IR PCOS patients, and non-PCOS controls revealed significantly elevated LUCAT1 expression in IR-PCOS. Functional validation via LUCAT1 knockdown in primary IR-PCOS GCs assessed cell viability, apoptosis, autophagy markers, and insulin sensitivity. Mechanistic studies employed Ago2-RIP, dual-luciferase reporter assays, and rescue experiments with miR-19a-3p mimic or HMGB1 overexpression.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>LUCAT1 knockdown promoted cell viability, reduced cell apoptosis, suppressed autophagy (decreased LC3B puncta, reduced LC3II/LC3I ratio, elevated p62), enhanced insulin sensitivity (upregulated IRS1, promoted GLUT4 membrane translocation, increased glucose uptake), and restored the secretion of steroid hormones (estradiol and progesterone) in GCs. Mechanistically, LUCAT1 functioned as a molecular sponge for miR-19a-3p, thereby increasing HMGB1 expression. MiR-19a-3p mimic replicated LUCAT1 knockdown effects, while HMGB1 overexpression abolished these phenotypes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Altogether, LUCAT1 knockdown reduces autophagy, apoptosis, dysfunction, and IR of GCs from PCOS-IR patients through modulating the miR-19a-3p/HMGB1 axis.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Trial Registration</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study is a retrospective observational clinical study. No prospective study-designed interventions, additional clinical treatments, or randomized controlled trials were performed in this work. In accordance with the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), formal clinical trial registration is not mandatory for retrospective observational studies without trial intervention. Thus, no trial registration number is available for this study.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7665,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Reproductive Immunology","volume":"96 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148359060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Comparative Analysis of the Immunoglobulin G and M Antibodies Seroprevalence Against Helicobacter pylori, Toxoplasma gondii, and Cytomegalovirus in Women With Preeclampsia","authors":"Mohammad Gholamian-Hamadan,&nbsp;Saiedeh Omidian,&nbsp;Aida Alizamir,&nbsp;Shirin Torkestani,&nbsp;Zohreh Zarei Ghane,&nbsp;Hamideh Parsapour,&nbsp;Elaheh Talebi-Ghane","doi":"10.1111/aji.70276","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aji.70276","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Problem</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Preeclampsia was recognized as a serious medical condition affecting both mother and fetus. Recent investigations revealed infectious agents such as <i>H. pylori</i>, CMV, and <i>T. gondii</i> could seriously affect the progression of preeclampsia but these findings are contradictory. The aim of the study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies against <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (<i>H. pylori</i>), <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> (<i>T. gondii</i>), and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) between pregnant women with preeclampsia and healthy pregnant women.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method of Study</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This case-control study was conducted on 90 pregnant women with preeclampsia (case group) and 90 matched healthy pregnant women (control group), who were matched by their age and gestational age from July to December 2024 in Hamadan. A checklist was employed to assess the demographic and laboratory parameters of case and control groups, especially the seroprevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies against <i>H. pylori</i>, <i>T. gondii</i>, and CMV. Statistical analysis was performed utilizing a logistic regression model with the SPSS 26 software program.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>There was a significant difference in the serum levels of IgM against <i>H. pylori</i> and IgG against CMV in patients compared to control groups, whereas the seroprevalence of other antibodies was not significantly changed. There was a significant association between women in case and control groups in terms of laboratory parameters such as HCT, BUN, ALT, BMI, NLR, and proteinuria.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p><i>H. pylori</i> and CMV could be regarded as the associated factors for the progression of preeclampsia. Novel therapeutic approaches could reduce the prevalence of preeclampsia by targeting inflammatory pathways.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7665,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Reproductive Immunology","volume":"96 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148350322","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Platelet Rich Plasma: Pioneering a Paradigm Shift in Subclinical Endometritis Treatment","authors":"Gitesh Saini,&nbsp;Navdeep Singh,&nbsp;Amit Khatti,&nbsp;Vinay Yadav,&nbsp;Jay Prakash Yadav,&nbsp;Priyanka Syal,&nbsp;Sunil Punia,&nbsp;Dawoud Aamir Nehru","doi":"10.1111/aji.70277","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aji.70277","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Problem</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Repeat breeding syndrome associated with subclinical endometritis (SCE) remains a major cause of infertility in dairy cattle, as its subclinical nature often hampers timely diagnosis and therapeutic intervention, thereby limiting the success of conventional antimicrobial therapy. This study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of intrauterine platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as an immunomodulatory, antibiotic-free alternative for the management of SCE in repeat breeder cows and aimed to standardize an effective intrauterine PRP dose regime.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method of study</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Twenty-nine repeat-breeding cows diagnosed with SCE based on endometrial cytobrush cytology (&gt;5% polymorphonuclear neutrophils, PMNs) were randomly allocated into three groups: untreated control, intrauterine cephapirin (500 mg), and intrauterine PRP (25 mL; ≥1×10⁶ platelets/µL). Changes in endometrial PMN percentage, bacterial load, pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IFN-γ), interval to return to estrus, and conception rate were assessed.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Both PRP and antibiotic treatments significantly reduced endometrial PMN counts and inflammatory cytokine concentrations compared with untreated controls (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Intrauterine PRP markedly modulated the uterine inflammatory milieu, demonstrating substantial reductions in TNF-α and IFN-γ, even in animals with negative microbial cultures, highlighting its immune-regulatory action. PRP treatment also resulted in a significant decline in uterine bacterial load, likely mediated through enhanced intrinsic uterine defence mechanisms. Conception rates in PRP-treated cows (50%) were comparable to those achieved with antibiotic therapy and superior to untreated controls, with no adverse effects on estrus return interval.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Intrauterine PRP effectively restores uterine homeostasis and fertility in repeat breeder cows affected with SCE by concurrently attenuating inflammation, facilitating microbial clearance, and promoting endometrial regeneration.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7665,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Reproductive Immunology","volume":"96 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148343733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlation Between Gut Microbiota and Hematological Inflammatory Indices in Full-Term Pregnant Women: An Exploratory Study","authors":"Guangyu Ma,&nbsp;Ting Huang,&nbsp;Yang Chai,&nbsp;Rongfu Zhang,&nbsp;Huijuan Luo,&nbsp;Xiaomin Xiao,&nbsp;Xiaomei Tang","doi":"10.1111/aji.70274","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aji.70274","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aim</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To explore correlations between hematological inflammatory indices and oral immunity, systemic immunity, and gut microbiota in healthy term pregnant women.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Twenty healthy term pregnant women were enrolled. Fecal, saliva, and peripheral blood samples were collected. Hematological inflammatory indices were correlated with immune parameters and gut microbiota using routine blood tests, flow cytometry, cytokine measurements, and 16S rRNA sequencing.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Salivary IL-1β correlated positively with the Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (MLR), the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII), and the Pan-Immune-Inflammation Value (PIV). The salivary IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio correlated positively with the Hemoglobin-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (HbLR). Peripheral IL-5 correlated positively with the Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI) and PIV. CD4⁺ T cells correlated with HbLR, while the Th17/Treg ratio correlated with SII and MLR. Th1/Th2 ratio and Th1 cells correlated with the derived Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (dNLR) and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR); conversely, CD56brightCD16⁻ NK cells correlated negatively with SIRI and PIV. Gut microbiota analysis showed negative correlations between <i>Collinsella</i> and SII/NLR, <i>Blautia</i> and SII, and <i>Bifidobacterium</i> and MLR, while <i>Fusobacterium</i> correlated positively with NLR, dNLR, and MLR; <i>Phascolarctobacterium</i> with NLR; and <i>Bacteroides</i> with platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Hematological inflammatory indices in healthy term pregnant women are closely associated with oral and systemic immunity, suggesting their potential as indicators of immune balance. These indices also show strong correlations with gut microbiota, indicating that probiotics may help maintain immune homeostasis, whereas certain microbial taxa may promote inflammatory responses.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7665,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Reproductive Immunology","volume":"96 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148336868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Effects of Sex Hormones and Aging on the Mucosal Immune System in the Human Female Reproductive Tract and Implications for HIV Acquisition","authors":"Charles R. Wira,&nbsp;Mickey V. Patel,&nbsp;Gabriel Faber,&nbsp;Beverly Fu,&nbsp;Marta Rodriguez-Garcia","doi":"10.1111/aji.70269","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aji.70269","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Problem</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The female reproductive tract (FRT) is susceptible to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which negatively impact and threaten the lives of women worldwide. While the hormonal regulation of innate and adaptive immunity in the FRT during the menstrual cycle is well-studied, changes in mucosal immune protection throughout the FRT that occur with aging after menopause remain largely unknown.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This review summarizes hormonal and age-related immune changes throughout the FRT, focusing on their effects on the function of epithelial cells and immune cells in the uterus, cervix and vagina, highlighting implications for HIV infection.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>After menopause, as reproductive function ceases, two interconnected processes, menopause and immunosenescence, drive alterations in immune protection. As women age following menopause, significant aspects of innate and adaptive immunity in the FRT are compromised in a site-specific manner. At some FRT sites, as cell numbers decline, immunological compensation characterized by increased immunological activity is observed.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Overall, these changes in mucosal immune protection contribute to a heightened risk of STIs and HIV acquisition. Further research is essential to establish a basis for developing new therapeutic interventions to restore immune protection and mitigate conditions that endanger the health and lives of aging women.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7665,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Reproductive Immunology","volume":"95 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148275585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genital Immune Correlates of Seroprevalent and Seroincident Herpes Simplex Type 2 Infection Among Women Who Sell Sex in Nairobi, Kenya","authors":"Suji Udayakumar,&nbsp;James Pollock,&nbsp;Erastus Irungu,&nbsp;Peter Muthoga,&nbsp;Wendy Adhiambo,&nbsp;Sanja Huibner,&nbsp;Mary Kungu'u,&nbsp;Rhoda Kabuti,&nbsp;Hellen Babu,&nbsp;Maisha Fiti Study Champions,&nbsp;Pauline Ngurukiri,&nbsp;Helen A. Weiss,&nbsp;Janet Seeley,&nbsp;Tanya Abramsky,&nbsp;Tara S. Beattie,&nbsp;Joshua Kimani,&nbsp;Rupert Kaul","doi":"10.1111/aji.70273","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aji.70273","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Problem</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Most <i>Herpes simplex</i> virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection is asymptomatic but increases the risk of HIV acquisition, possibly due to alterations in genital immunology. We examine associations of HSV-2 prevalence and incidence with epithelial barrier disruption.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method of Study</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study was nested within the longitudinal Maisha Fiti cohort of women who sell sex in Nairobi, Kenya. HSV-2 serostatus was assessed by Kalon HSV-2 IgG assay. Socio-behavioural characteristics were assessed by questionnaire and analysed by logistic regression. Immune factors (including soluble E-cadherin (sE-cad)) were assayed in cervicovaginal secretions by multiplex immunoassay, log-transformed and analysed through linear regression.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Among 731 HIV-negative participants, 414 (57%) were HSV-2 seropositive. These women were older (median age 35 vs 28 years; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and reported increased intravaginal washing (64 vs 56%; <i>p</i> = 0.027) than those who were HSV-2 seronegative. Genital sE-cad levels were similar, and IL-6 levels were lower in seropositive participants (1.15 vs 1.28 pg/mL, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01). Seroincidence was 10.7/100 person (95% CI: 7.3, 15.2) years among the 317 initially seronegative participants. Incident infection was associated with older age (31 vs 28 years, <i>p</i> = 0.001), increased number of clients (6 vs 4 clients/week, <i>p</i> = 0.005), and bacterial vaginosis (BV) (32 vs 15%, <i>p</i> = 0.009). Although women who acquired HSV-2 had higher sE-cad and lower MIP-3<i>α</i> levels, there was no association after controlling for Nugent score.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Subclinical epithelial barrier disruption is unlikely to be underpinning HIV acquisition in asymptomatic HSV-2 infection. There was no evidence of genital immune predictors of HSV-2 acquisition, whereas the vaginal microbiome is important.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":7665,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Reproductive Immunology","volume":"95 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aji.70273","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148275576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}