Estradiol alters the immune-responsiveness of cervical epithelial cells stimulated with ligands of Toll-like receptors 2 and 4.

The mucosa of the female reproductive tract plays a pivotal role in host defence. Pregnancy must alter immunological mechanisms at this interface to protect the conceptus. We sought to determine how estradiol (E2) alters the immune-responsiveness of cervical epithelial cells to ligand stimulation of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 and -4. Human ectocervical epithelial cells (HECECs) were cultured and co-incubated with two concentrations of E2 and peptidoglycan (PGN) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) over durations that ranged between 10 minutes and 18 hours. Cytometric Bead Array was performed to quantify eight cytokines in the supernatant fluid. In response to PGN, HECECs co-incubated with E2 released lesser quantities of IL-1ß and IFNγ, higher levels of RANTES, and variable levels of IL-6 and IL-8 than those not exposed to E2. In contrast, HECECs co-incubated with LPS and E2 secreted increased levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, and IFNγ at 2 and 18 hours than HECECs not exposed to E2, and reduced levels of RANTES at same study time-points. Estradiol alters the immune-responsiveness of cultured HECECs to TLR2 and TLR4 ligands in a complex fashion that appears to vary with bacterial ligand, TLR subtype, and duration of exposure. Our observations are consistent with the functional complexity that this mucosal interface requires for its immunological roles

Maternal health in Central America: The role of medicinal plants in the pregnancy-related health and well-being of indigenous women in Central America

Over the past 20 years, Central America (CA) has made considerable progress in improving the health status of its populations. However, in some countries, the overall health status remains below average with poor outcomes concentrated geographically among the poor and Indigenous populations. Although Indigenous people make up the second largest population in CA, these populations have less access to healthcare, and funding for initiatives to improve maternal health is scarce. In many communities across CA, women continue to rely heavily on plant-based medicines for health and well-being, and yet there is a paucity of information regarding the safety and efficacy of these therapies. Sourced from available academic, governmental, and gray literature, in both English and Spanish, this chapter reviews maternal health issues among the Indigenous, Ladino, and other ethnic women of CA, evaluates the role of traditional medicine practices and their influence on maternal health outcomes, and reviews the existing scientific evidence supporting the use of traditional (i.e., plant-based) medicines for pregnancy-related health conditions.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de QuímicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones en Productos Naturales (CIPRONA