Endometrial leukocyte subpopulations associated with Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis genital tract infection.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to characterize endometrial inflammation associated with common genital tract pathogens.

STUDY

DESIGN

The design of the study was the immunohistochemical characterization of the endometrial leukocyte subpopulations from 37 controls and 45 women infected with Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, or Trichomonas vaginalis.

RESULTS

Compared with uninfected women, endocervical infection with C trachomatis, N gonorrhoeae, or T vaginalis was associated with significant increases in endometrial T cells, B cells, plasma cells, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Even more substantial increases in T cell, B cell, and plasma cell numbers were detected among women infected endocervically and endometrially with C trachomatis.

CONCLUSION

Because lower genital tract C trachomatis, N gonorrhoeae, or T vaginalis infections were associated with comparable increases in the same endometrial leukocyte subpopulations, our results suggest the underappreciated involvement of T vaginalis in upper genital tract inflammatory processes. The more robust inflammatory infiltrate associated with C trachomatis endometrial ascension may offer insight into host inflammatory responses associated with pelvic inflammatory disease development.