The correlation of HPV16 and HPV18 with local vaginal immunity after the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the level of HPV16 and HPV18 in patients with cervical lesions and the local vaginal immunity after receiving treatment with different degrees of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). METHODS: One hundred and thirty-six patients with LSIL (grade 1 CIN or CIN 1), 263 patients with HSIL (grade 2 and 3 CIN or CIN 2 and 3), and 33 patients with CSCC pathologically confirmed between November 2012 and September 2016 were assigned to the test group and 100 healthy women in the same period were assigned to the control group. ELISA was used to determine the levels of SIgA, IgG, IL-2, and IL-10 and the IL-2/IL-10 ratio in vaginal lavage fluid in the test group (before treatment and 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment) and the control group, respectively. Gene chip technology was adopted to test the HPV infection in the test group (before treatment and 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment) and the control group, respectively. RESULTS: The results showed that the levels of SIgA, IgG, and IL-10 were positively correlated with the degree of cervical lesions and IL-2/IL-10 was negatively correlated with the degree in all patients before treatment. The levels of SIgA, IgG, and IL-10 were positively correlated with the degree of cervical lesions and IL-2/IL-10 was negatively correlated with the degree in HPV16 and HPV18-infected patients before receiving the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The recovery after the treatment of HPV infection is time-dependent and the immune system of patients with CIN starts to recover in the 6th month after treatment, early intervention is not recommended. However, the immune system is approximately in a normal sate at 12 months after treatment, at which time the efficacy can be evaluated, and clinical intervention can be initiated if necessary. The level of local immune factors in the vagina can be monitored to determine the progression and prognosis of patients’ cervical lesions.