Menstruation is associated with cyclical granulysin peaks in vaginal secretions despite stable expression by cervicovaginal immune cells.

PROBLEM: The anti-microbial protein granulysin is present in vaginal secretions during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle but nearly disappears during the luteal phase. The reason for this change is unknown.

METHOD OF STUDY: Participants (n = 23) with regular menstrual cycles collected daily vaginal swabs for granulysin ELISAs. Endocervical cytobrushes, ectocervical biopsies, vaginal biopsies, and PBMC were collected across the cycle to enumerate granulysin-expressing cells by flow cytometry. Cycle phase was determined by daily urinary luteinizing hormone testing and confirmed by serum progesterone levels.

RESULTS

Granulysin levels in secretions were up to 10,000 times higher during menstruation than during the luteal phase (menstruation, median 3,924 pg/mL [IQR 400-17,280]; luteal, median and IQR undetectable [<7.81 pg/mL]). In the endocervical canal, granulysin-expressing cells were much more abundant during menstruation than during the mid-follicular or mid-luteal phases. In contrast, the number of granulysin-expressing cells in the ectocervix and vagina remained stable during the cycle. The most abundant granulysin-expressing cell types in the mucosa were CD8 T cells and NK cells. In a minority of participants, granulysin was consistently detected in luteal-phase swabs; this phenomenon was associated with parity.

CONCLUSIONS

Granulysin in vaginal secretions is associated with menstruation and concomitant with a spike in granulysin-expressing cells in the endocervical canal. This result explains the much higher granulysin levels in secretions during the follicular than the luteal phase. In contrast, immune cells from ectocervical and vaginal biopsies express granulysin independently of the menstrual cycle, indicating their continuous ability to respond to microbial infection.