Chronic immune barrier dysregulation among women with a history of violence victimization
Alison Swaims-Kohlmeier, Lisa B. Haddad, Zheng-Rong Tiger Li, Kathryn A. Brookmeyer, James M. Baker, Cathy Spatz Widom, James C. Lamousin, Kai-Hua Chi, Cheng Y. Chen, Ellen N. Kersh, Jeffrey A. Johnson, Melissa M. Herbst-Kralovetz, Matthew Hogben, Igho Ofotokun, Jacob E. Kohlmeier
Alison Swaims-Kohlmeier, Lisa B. Haddad, Zheng-Rong Tiger Li, Kathryn A. Brookmeyer, James M. Baker, Cathy Spatz Widom, James C. Lamousin, Kai-Hua Chi, Cheng Y. Chen, Ellen N. Kersh, Jeffrey A. Johnson, Melissa M. Herbst-Kralovetz, Matthew Hogben, Igho Ofotokun, Jacob E. Kohlmeier
View: Text | PDF
Research Article Immunology

Chronic immune barrier dysregulation among women with a history of violence victimization

Abstract

We explored the association between violence victimization and increased risk for acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in women by measuring cellular immune barrier properties from the female reproductive tract. STI-negative participants reporting repeated prior victimization occurrences through the lifetime trauma and victimization history (LTVH) instrument were more likely to exhibit alterations in barrier homeostasis and the composition of critical immune mediators irrespective of demographic parameters or presence of bacterial vaginosis. By combining cellular data with mixed-effect linear modeling, we uncovered differences in local T cells, MHCII+ antigen–presenting cells, and epithelial cells indicative of altered trafficking behavior, increased immunosuppressive function, and decreased barrier integrity at sites of STI exposure that correlate most strongly with LTVH score. These data evidence a biological link between a history of violence victimization and risk of STI acquisition through immune dysregulation in the female reproductive tract.

Authors

Alison Swaims-Kohlmeier, Lisa B. Haddad, Zheng-Rong Tiger Li, Kathryn A. Brookmeyer, James M. Baker, Cathy Spatz Widom, James C. Lamousin, Kai-Hua Chi, Cheng Y. Chen, Ellen N. Kersh, Jeffrey A. Johnson, Melissa M. Herbst-Kralovetz, Matthew Hogben, Igho Ofotokun, Jacob E. Kohlmeier

×

Figure 3

Stage of the menstrual cycle does not alter the impact of LTVH score on FRT immune cell numbers or the distribution of APC subsets.

Options: View larger image (or click on image) Download as PowerPoint
Stage of the menstrual cycle does not alter the impact of LTVH score on ...
(A) Cell abundance of epithelial cells, leukocytes, APCs, and T cells detected from vaginal lavage collections taken at the relative luteal or follicular phase of the menstrual cycle and compared with low or high LTVH scores (n = 69). Longitudinal comparisons at the follicular or luteal phase of the menstrual cycle among either low-scoring (black box and whiskers) or high-scoring groups (gray box and whiskers) were analyzed using a paired Student’s t test. Comparisons between low-scoring and high-scoring measures at either the follicular or luteal phase of the menstrual cycle were analyzed using an unpaired, 2-tailed Student’s t test. (B) Extracellular expression frequency of CCR5, CD103, and CCR7 from CD11c+HLA-DR+ APC populations (n = 64) analyzed both longitudinally across the course of 1 menstrual cycle or by comparing group scores at either the follicular or luteal phase. Statistics calculated similarly to A (box depicting the interquartile range with median bar and whiskers depicting minimum and maximum values). *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001.