Interferon epsilon in the reproductive tract of healthy and genital herpes simplex virus-infected pregnant women: Results of a pilot study.
Colette A NickodemMichael F CriscitielloFuller BazerOlayinka Abiodun-OjoBrandie DePaoli TaylorPublished in: American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) (2018)
Interferon epsilon increased across pregnancy, but was less abundant in women with HSV. This pilot investigation cannot make any definitive conclusions. However, animal models suggest that IFNe may protect against STIs. Thus, larger studies are required to validate expression of IFNe in the reproductive tract of pregnant women with and without genital infections.