Differences in levels* of cervical and systemic biomarkers by HSV-2 infection status adjusted for covariates
| HSV-2 status at the visit | ||||
| Cervical biomarker† | No of specimens | Incident (n=491) vs negative (n=1203) | Established (n=838) vs negative (n=1203) | Incident (n=491) vs established (n=838) |
| BD2 | 2530 | ↓** | ||
| SLPI | 2532 | ↓* | ↓** | |
| IL-1RA | 2532 | ↓** | ||
| IL-1β | 2532 | ↓*** | ↓** | |
| IL-6 | 2532 | ↓*** | ↓*** | |
| IL-8 | 2532 | ↓** | ↓* | |
| MIP-3α | 2532 | ↓*** | ↓** | |
| RANTES | 2532 | |||
| ICAM-1 | 2532 | |||
| VEGF | 2532 | ↓** | ↓* | |
| Serum biomarker‡ | No of specimens | Incident (n=390) vs negative (n=646) | Established (n=361) vs negative (n=646) | Incident (n=390) vs established (n=361) |
| sCD14 | 1397 | |||
| CRP | 1397 | |||
| IL-6 | 1396 | ↓** | ||
| IL-7 | 1396 | |||
*↑ indicates significantly higher levels and ↓ indicates significant lower levels of these mediators compared with an HSV-2 negative reference (including all negative visits contributed by all women with information on adjusted variables listed in the models below) or the established HSV-2 reference ***p<0.001; **p<0.01; *p<0.05.
†The generalised linear mixed-effects models of differences by cervical biomarkers are adjusted for country, age, 5-level hormonal variable (pregnant/breastfeeding/majority COC/majority DMPA/majority NH), unprotected sex acts, current sexually transmitted or reproductive tract infections (STIs/RTIs including BV, CT, NG and TV), vaginal drying and cleaning practices.
‡The generalised linear mixed-effects models of differences by serum biomarkers are adjusted for country, age, 5-level hormonal variable (pregnant/breastfeeding/majority COC/majority DMPA/majority NH), and current sexually transmitted or reproductive tract infections (STIs/RTIs).
BD2, beta defensin 2; CD, cluster of differentiation; CRP, C reactive protein; HSV, hepes simplex virus; ICAM, intercellular adhesion molecule; IL, iterleukin; IL-1RA, interleukin 1 receptor antagonist; MIP, macrophage inflammatory protein; RANTES, Regulated upon Activation, Normal T Cell Expressed and Presumably Secreted; SLPI, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.