Use of cervicovaginal fluid for the identification of biomarkers for pathologies of the female genital tract.

ABSTRACT: Cervicovaginal fluid has an important function in the homeostasis and immunity of the lower female genital tract. Analysis of the cervicovaginal fluid proteome may therefore yield important information about the pathogenesis of numerous gynecological pathologies. Additionally, cervicovaginal fluid has great potential as a source of biomarkers for these conditions.This review provides a detailed discussion about the human cervicovaginal proteome and the proteomics studies performed to characterize this biological fluid. Furthermore, infection-correlated pathological conditions of the female genital tract are discussed for which cervicovaginal fluid has been used in order to identify potential biomarkers. Recent years, numerous studies have analyzed cervicovaginal fluid samples utilizing ant

SUBMITTER: Zegels G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3016264 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature