Immunity in the Cervix: Interphase between Immune and Cervical Epithelial Cells

Figure 8

Comprehensive profile of immunity in the three compartments of the cervix. This figure shows the overall innate and adaptive immunity of the pathogen-laden ectocervix and “sterile” CTZ and endocervix, as well as their associated cells and molecules. Full names of abbreviations: interleukin (1, 6, 10, 15, 18), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and dickkopf homolog 1 (DKK1), pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), pattern recognition receptor (PRR), and cervical transformation zone (CTZ). The illustration on the distribution of leukocytes is a modification from the following manuscripts: Givan et al. [57]; Trifonova et al. [58]; and Zhou et al. [10].