Toll-Like Receptors and Cytokines as Surrogate Biomarkers for Evaluating Vaginal Immune Response following Microbicide Administration

Figure 9

RT-PCR analysis of cytokine expression following intravaginal application of nisin (15.15 mM/day/14 days), SDS (56 𝜇M/day/14 days) and 1% placebo gels in rabbits. After separation of cells, they were subjected to RNA extraction as per the protocol given in the material and methods section. The expression of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-𝛼. genes in nisin treated group was comparable to the placebo group. In contrast, expression of the cytokine genes was upregulated in SDS treated group. GAPDH blots confirmed roughly equivalent loading of RNA samples.