Cytokines in Cervical Secretion for High-Grade HPV Infections

Background: Cervical cancer is a significant global health issue, contributing to over 300,000 deaths annually, with human papillomavirus (HPV) as a primary etiological factor. High-risk HPV infections are prevalent, yet there is a lack of effective biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of disease progression.

Method: This research employed a case-control design involving 200 women with high-grade cervical lesions associated with high-risk HPV and 200 healthy controls. Cytokine levels in cervical secretions were quantitatively measured using multiplex immunoassays, with statistical analyses performed to compare groups and evaluate associations.

Result: The study identified significantly elevated levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in the cervical secretions of women with high-grade HPV infections, with IL-6 levels at 150 pg/ml (95% CI 130-170) compared to 70 pg/ml (95% CI 60-80) in controls, showing a 114% increase (p<0.001). A strong positive correlation was noted between IL-6 levels and HPV viral load (r=0.6, p<0.001).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that elevated cytokine levels in cervical secretions, particularly IL-6, may serve as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of high-grade HPV infections, supporting their integration into cervical cancer prevention strategies. Limitations include the study's cross-sectional design, which necessitates further longitudinal studies for validation.

Original citation address: https://www.besjournal.com/en/article/doi/10.3967/bes2025.117