Antimicrobial Factors in the Cervical Mucus Plug

Overview

Journal Am J Obstet Gynecol

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2002 Jul 13

PMID 12114901

Citations 87

Authors

Merete Hein

Erika V Valore

Rikke Bek Helmig

Niels Uldbjerg

Tomas Ganz

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: The cervical mucus plug is positioned between the microbe-rich vagina and the normally sterile uterine cavity, which suggests a host defense function, but few relevant data are available. We analyzed the composition and antimicrobial activity of cervical mucus plugs.

Study Design: Cervical mucus plugs were collected from healthy women at delivery. Groups of plugs were randomly selected for electrolyte analysis, antimicrobial activity assays against group B Streptococcus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and assays of known antimicrobial polypeptides.

Results: Both intact cervical mucus plugs and their aqueous extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against aerobic microbes, in the order of potency: group B Streptococcus > E coli > C albicans. Semiquantitative Western blotting of extracts showed that secretory leukoprotease inhibitor, lysozyme, lactoferrin, and neutrophil defensins were present at concentrations that were sufficient for antimicrobial activity.

Conclusion: The cervical mucus plug is not only a mechanical but also a chemical barrier to infection that ascends from the vagina.

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