Chronic cervicitis associated with human papillomavirus and markers of inflammation in women of reproductive age

Objective. To investigate the incidence of chronic cervicitis (CC), detection rates of various types of human papillomavirus (HPV), the significance of the viral load, expression of mRNA genes involved in regulating the cell cycle, apoptosis, immunity, matrix metalloproteinases, and the methylation of the WIF1 gene promoter region among patients with CC associated with HPV infection. Material and methods. The study comprised 202 patients aged from 25 to 49 years. A comprehensive clinical and laboratory examination included patient history taking, gynecological examination, colposcopy, HPV testing, liquid-based cytology and targeted cervical biopsy (according to indications), vaginal smear microscopy, assessment of vaginal microbiocenosis, analysis of the transcriptional profile of KI67 genes KI67, CDKN2A, BCL2, PGR, IFNAR1, IL1RN, CCND1, EGFR, IL1B, IL10, IL18, TNFA, GATA3, TLR4, CD68, TGFB1, CXCL5, CXCL10 CXCL13, mMp8, mMp9, and the determination of the methylation level of the WIF1 gene promoter region. Results. Among patients with cervical pathology, 25.7% were found to have HPV-associated CC. The most commonly detected types were 16, 33, 35, and 66. The presence of HPV infection in endocervical scrapings was associated with a 1.8- and 2.4-fold higher expression of mRNA of CDKN2A/ p16 gene and IL10, respectively (p < 0.05). The inflammatory process was accompanied by a 1.5 to 2.9 - fold increase in the expression of mRNA of IFNAR1, IL1B, IL10, TNFA, TLR4, CD68, TGFB1 and MMP9 genes (p <0.05). In the study cohort, the methylation of the WIF1 gene was either not observed or weakly expressed. Conclusion. The genes IFNAR1, IL1B, IL10, TNFA, TLR4, CD68, TGFB1, and MMP9, may be suggested as markers for CC. The presence of HPV contributes to an increase in the expression of mRNA of the CDKN2A/p16 genes and the immunosuppressive IL10.

chronic cervicitis, human papillomavirus, PCR, mRNA expression, WIF1 gene