Performance of Softcup® menstrual cup and vulvovaginal swab samples for detection and quantification of genital cytokines

Performance of Softcup® menstrual cup and vulvovaginal swab samples for detection and quantification of genital cytokines

Cytokines are important mediators of immunity in the female genital tract, and their levels may be associated with various reproductive health outcomes. However, the measurement of cytokines and chemokines in vaginal fluid samples may be influenced by a variety of factors, each with the potential to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of immunological methods Vol. 528; p. 113656
Main Authors: Pillay, Nashlin, Mzobe, Gugulethu Favourate, Letsoalo, Marothi, Kama, Asavela Olona, Mtshali, Andile, Magini, Stanley Nzuzo, Singh, Nikkishia, Govender, Vani, Samsunder, Natasha, Naidoo, Megeshinee, Moodley, Dhayendre, Baxter, Cheryl, Archary, Derseree, Ngcapu, Sinaye
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-05-2024
Subjects:
Cervix Uteri
Cytokines
Cytokines - metabolism
Detection
Female
Genital inflammation
Genitalia, Female
Humans
Menstrual Hygiene Products
Pregnancy
Softcup® menstrual cup
Vagina
Vulvovaginal swab
Cytokines
Detection
Softcup® menstrual cup
Genital inflammation
Vulvovaginal swab
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Summary:Cytokines are important mediators of immunity in the female genital tract, and their levels may be associated with various reproductive health outcomes. However, the measurement of cytokines and chemokines in vaginal fluid samples may be influenced by a variety of factors, each with the potential to affect the sensitivity and accuracy of the assay, including the interpretation and comparison of data. We measured and compared cytokine milieu in samples collected via Softcup® menstrual cup versus vulvovaginal swabs. One hundred and eighty vulvovaginal swabs from CAPRISA 088 and 42 Softcup supernatants from CAPRISA 016 cohorts of pregnant women were used to measure the concentrations of 28 cytokines through multiplexing. Cytokines measured in this study were detectable in each of the methods however, SoftCup supernatants showed consistently, higher detectability, expression ratios, and mean concentration of cytokines than vulvovaginal swabs. While mean concentrations differed, the majority of cytokines correlated between SoftCup supernatants and vulvovaginal swabs. Additionally, there were no significant differences in a number of participants between the two sampling methods for the classification of genital inflammation. Our findings suggest that SoftCup supernatants and vulvovaginal swab samples are suitable for the collection of genital specimens to study biological markers of genital inflammatory response. However, the Softcup menstrual cup performs better for the detection and quantification of soluble biomarkers that are found in low concentrations in cervicovaginal fluid.
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ISSN:0022-1759
1872-7905
1872-7905
DOI:10.1016/j.jim.2024.113656