| DB ID | MyCo_1908 |
| Title | Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Concentration in Vaginal Fluid: Relation to Bacterial Vaginosis and Vulvovaginal Candidiasis |
| Year | 2015 |
| PMID | 25670719 |
| Fungal Diseases involved | Vulvovaginal candidiasis |
| Associated Medical Condition | Bacterial vaginosis |
| Genus | Candida |
| Species | albicans |
| Organism | Candida albicans |
| Ethical Statement | The study was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee at the University of Campinas on 16 November, 2012 (#155.315) and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. |
| Site of Infection | Vagina |
| Opportunistic invasive | Opportunistic |
| Sample type | Body fluid |
| Sample source | Vaginal Fluid |
| Host Group | Human |
| Host Common name | Human |
| Host Scientific name | Homo sapiens |
| Biomarker Name | NGAL |
| Biomarker Full Name | Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin |
| Biomarker Type | Diagnostic |
| Biomolecule | Protein |
| Geographical Location | Brazil |
| Cohort | Women who were seen at the outpatient clinic in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Campinas in Brazil between May and November 2013 were recruited for this investigation. Women determined to be positive for BV were symptomatic and exhibited at least 3 of the Amsell clinical criteria8 and had a Gram stain Nugent score9 of >7. Patients with VVC had Candida hyphae identified on a microscopic evaluation of vaginal fluid, a positive vaginal culture for C albicans, and clinical signs and symptoms consistent with VVC. Healthy control women were those with a vaginal pH < 4.5, no vaginal discharge or physical complaints, and the presence of a Lactobacillus-dominated vaginal microbiota by Gram stain analysis. Patients were excluded if they were menstruating, were pregnant, used any antibacterial, antifungal, or immunosuppressive medication within the previous 2 weeks, or had recent vaginal intercourse (48 hours). Women with a mixed infection (VVC plus BV) or other vaginal disorders were also excluded. All women completed a detailed questionnaire about medical history and demographic characteristics and underwent a speculum-based gynecological examination. The final study population included 52 women with VVC, 43 with BV, and 77 healthy controls. |
| Cohort No. | 172 |
| Age Group | None |
| P Value | P=.0017 |
| Sensitivity | None |
| Specificity | None |
| Positive Predictive Value | None |
| MIC | None |
| Fold Change | None |
| Pathway | None |
| Disease Introduction Mechanism | Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), otherwise known as lipocalin-2, is a 25-kDa peptide produced by neutrophils, monocytes, and epithelial cells. It is a component of the antimicrobial innate immune system. By binding to siderophores, bacterial proteins that facilitate bacterial iron uptake, NGAL prevents bacterial iron acquisition and inhibits growth of gram-negative bacteria.3 Neutrophil gelatinaseassociated lipocalin is an acute-phase reactant whose production is upregulated following activation of Toll-like receptors by bacterial ligands and induction of the transcription factor, nuclear factor-kappa activated B cells. In addition, NGAL has received much recent attention as a biomarker in serum, urine, and tissue of acute renal injury.6 Both pro- and antitumor effects of NGAL expression have also been reported.5 Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) are the 2 most common vaginal disorders of reproductive-age women. Vulvovaginal candidiasis is due to an overgrowth of Candida species, most commonly Candida albicans. It is associated with a thick curd-like discharge, symptoms of burning and pruritus, leukocyte infiltration, and the presence of intense inflammation. In contrast to BV, in most women with VVC the underlying vaginal microbiota remains unaltered. The different associations between BV and VVC and the endogenous vaginal bacterial populations as well as variations in inflammatory immune responses to their occurrence prompted us to evaluate whether NGAL was a component of antimicrobial immunity when these disorders were present, and specifically was the concentration of NGAL in vaginal fluid altered in women with BV or VVC. |
| Technique | ELISA |
| Analysis Method | ELISA Based |
| ELISA kits | ELISA Kit (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minnesota) |
| Assay Data | None |
| Validation Techniques used | ELISA |
| Up Regulation Down Regulation | Decrease |
| Sequence Data | None |
| External Link | None |
