Expression of IFN-epsilon in the Female Reproductive Tract
NCT ID: NCT02416154
Last Updated: 2021-12-27
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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COMPLETED
32 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
2015-07-31
2020-05-31
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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1. To optimize measurement protocols for IFNε and related biomarkers in samples from the female reproductive tract.
2. To quantify and characterize IFNε expression in the upper and lower genital tract and blood in normally cycling women during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.
Study design: This is a single site, parallel cross-sectional study
Specific Aims:
The aim of this study is to determine which "IFNε -related assays" can be performed on different types of FRT samples. The possible "IFNε-related assays" are:
* IFNε messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT PCR) (requiring frozen tissue processed for RNA)
* IFN Regulated Gene expression by qRT PCR, microarray or targeted gene set using Fluidigm platform (frozen tissue)
* PR and ER gene expression (as above)
* IFNε tissue protein levels\* (by immunoassay) and progesterone and estrogen receptors (PR/ER) by Western blotting (frozen tissue)
* IFNε and Neopterin (a well characterized compound whose production can be stimulated by IFNs and whose specificity in this setting needs validation) or other IFNε-biomarkers\*\* by immunoassay in cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) fluids
* Immunohistochemistry of IFNε, PR/ER, + other (e.g. cells, cytokines) (fixed tissue)
* Studies of FRT samples from wild type and IFNε-/- mice would be used to first validate Neopterin as a "biomarker" of IFNε activity in the FRT; and microarray analyses may reveal other secreted proteins that may be used as "biomarkers" of IFNε activity.
Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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COHORT
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Study Groups
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Follicular phase
Normally cycling women in the follicular phase of menses
Reproductive tract and blood sampling
Reproductive tract and blood sampling will be performed at enrollment only in this cross-sectional parallel cohort study.
Luteal phase
Normally cycling women in the luteal phase of menses
Reproductive tract and blood sampling
Reproductive tract and blood sampling will be performed at enrollment only in this cross-sectional parallel cohort study.
Interventions
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Reproductive tract and blood sampling
Reproductive tract and blood sampling will be performed at enrollment only in this cross-sectional parallel cohort study.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
2. Non-pregnant women in general good health as determined by the site clinician
3. Premenopausal with history of regular menstrual cycles (regular cycles defined as occurring every 21-35 days when not using hormones and with a variation of typical cycle length of no more than 5 days)
4. Regular and consistent condom use, prior surgical sterilization by participant or sexual partner, or heterosexually abstinent since last menses prior to enrollment
5. Able and willing to provide written informed consent to be screened for and to take part in the study, including willingness to undergo all study-related assessments and follow all study-related procedures
6. Able and willing to provide adequate locator information
7. HIV-uninfected based on testing performed by study staff at enrollment
Exclusion Criteria
2. Use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) within 10 months of enrollment
3. Pregnancy or breastfeeding within 60 days of enrollment
4. Surgical procedure involving the pelvis in the 30 days prior to enrollment (includes dilation and curettage, cryosurgery and biopsy of the vagina, vulva, cervix, and endometrium)
5. Internal vaginal use of any device (includes sex toys, cervical caps, diaphragms, menstrual collection devices, and pessaries; excludes tampons and condoms) or product (includes spermicide, microbicide, douche, antifungal, steroid, or hormone) in the 30 days prior to enrolment (includes investigational products and devices)
6. New sexual partner within 90 days of enrollment
7. Urogenital infection or suspected infection within 30 days of enrollment including: symptomatic candidiasis, trichomonas vaginalis, and symptomatic bacterial vaginosis; or cervical infection, including N. gonorrhoea (GC), C. trachomatis (CT), or mucopurulent cervicitis; syphilis; herpes simplex virus (HSV) lesions, or other sores (Note: seropositive HSV without active lesions will not be excluded); acute pelvic inflammatory disease; urinary tract infection; recent exposure to a partner with GC, CT, Trichomonas, syphilis, or non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU)
8. Any history of immunosuppression (includes diabetes, HIV infection, and chronic steroid use or other immunosuppressive medications)
9. Antibiotic or antifungal therapy (vaginal or systemic) within 30 days of enrollment
10. Menses or other vaginal bleeding at the time of enrollment\* (\*Women who have vaginal bleeding at the scheduled enrollment visit may return at a different date to be re-examined and possibly enrolled provided they are still within the 90-day screening window and meet all criteria).
11. Vaginal or anal intercourse within 36 hours prior to enrollment
12. Heterosexual intercourse since last menses that places the participant at risk of pregnancy (without condom use or sterilization of at least one partner)
13. History of hysterectomy
14. History of malignancy within the pelvis (includes uterus, cervix, vagina, and vulva)
15. Any condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would preclude provision of consent, make participation in the study unsafe, complicate interpretation of study outcome data, or otherwise interfere with achieving the study objectives
18 Years
35 Years
FEMALE
Yes
Sponsors
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Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
OTHER
MIMR-PHI Institute, Australia
UNKNOWN
University of Pittsburgh
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Sharon Achilles
Assistant Professor
Principal Investigators
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Paul Hertzog, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Hudson Institute of Medical Research
Locations
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Center for Family Planning Research
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Countries
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Other Identifiers
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OPP1108501
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id