28 - Mucosal Immunity in the Female Reproductive Tract: Effect of Sex Hormones on Immune Recognition and Responses

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the effect of sex hormones on immune recognition and responses and to identify the sites that contribute to humoral immunity in the reproductive tract by examining both the afferent and efferent arms of the immune system. This includes recent findings that show that both the uterus and vagina are inductive sites for antigenic challenge and that sex hormones play a crucial role in regulating antigen presentation by uterine and vaginal cells. The chapter discusses the interplay that exists between the endocrine and immune systems in the female reproductive tract as it relates to the induction of immune responses. . The discussion of mucosal immunity in female reproductive tract includes studying immune cells in reproductive tract tissues; humoral immunity in the female reproductive tract; and experimental induction of immune response in the female reproductive tract. The mucosal immunity in the female reproductive tract behaves selectively neutral to allogenic spermatozoa and supports fetal placental unit that is immunologically distinct and essential for perpetuation of the species, while protecting against potential bacterial and viral pathogens. Mucosal immunity in the reproductive tract has evolved to be responsive to the constraints of procreation while at the same time protecting the mother. Transmission of agents like herpes simplex virus, group B streptococcus, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Chlamydia vaginalis into men, women, and children lead to pain, reproductive tract cancer, and bladder and urinary tract infections. The chapter also discusses recognition of both lower and upper reproductive tracts as potential sites for inducing immune responses for vaccine development. The chapter concludes that that estradiol, progesterone, and cytokines interact in a coordinated manner to regulate both the afferent and efferent arms of the immune system in the female reproductive tract.