Human papillomavirus infection is associated with decreased levels of GM-CSF in cervico-vaginal fluid of infected women

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection, there are very scant data about the influence of this virus on the in vitro fertilization outcome. ObjectivesTo assess the presence of HPV in the cervico-vaginal fluid in relationship to the in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome and to the concentration of selected cytokines, known to affect embryo implantation and gestation: granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). Study designCervico-vaginal samples were collected on the day of oocyte pick-up from 82 women. Vaginas were flushed with 50mL of sterile water and 3mL of fluid was collected. ResultsTwelve women (15%) were positive for HPV. Interestingly, among HPV+ women live birth rate was about half of the rate in HPV− women, although the differences were not statistically significant due to the low number of cases. Cervico-vaginal samples of a sub-group of 29 (8 HPV+ and 21 HPV−) women were analyzed for GM-CSF and G-CSF by ELISA. GM-CSF but not G-CSF was significantly lower in the cervico-vaginal fluid of HPV+ than in HPV− women. ConclusionsSince GM-CSF plays an important role during pregnancy, the reduced levels of GM-CSF in the cervico-vaginal fluid of HPV+ women might contribute to explain the reduced live birth rate observed in HPV+ women.