lactoferrin and Pelvic-Inflammatory-Disease

The blood concentrations of various inflammatory reactants were studied in female participants of the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programs depending on the outcome. Comparison of the obtained values with the values characteristic of healthy women and with the levels of the above reactants in patients with subacute inflammatory diseases of the uterine appendages indicated that females with IVF failures had elevated levels of lactoferrin and circulating alpha2-macroglobulin-IgG complexes and decreased concentrations of IgG as in women with a localized pyodestructive process in the appendages, but in women having effective IVF, the levels of the study proteins did not differ from those in healthy donors. The authors recommend that the above indices should be used as criteria substantiating the need for additional sanitation and anti-inflammatory therapy before initiating the IVF program.

Topics: Adnexa Uteri; Adult; alpha-Macroglobulins; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Inflammation Mediators; Lactoferrin; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Neisseria gonorrhoeae expresses receptors for both lactoferrin (LF) and transferrin (TF). To determine whether qualitative or quantitative changes in these receptors, or both, correlate with the pattern of disease due to N. gonorrhoeae, a dot binding assay with whole cells was used to measure the absolute receptor levels expressed during iron-limited growth of strains isolated from asymptomatic patients and patients with urethritis, cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease and disseminated infection. Lactoferrin and transferrin receptor complexes were purified by affinity chromatography and their protein profiles were compared. The molecular weights of the LF and TF receptor complexes from a representative sample of gonococci were homogeneous. We conclude that there is no relationship between the LF and TF receptor levels and disease manifestation, auxotype or serotype.

Topics: Carrier State; Cell Membrane; Chromatography, Affinity; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Female; Gonorrhea; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease; Receptors, Cell Surface; Receptors, Transferrin; Urethritis; Uterine Cervicitis