Toll-Like Receptors and Cytokines as Surrogate Biomarkers for Evaluating Vaginal Immune Response following Microbicide Administration
Figure 1
Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LCMS) images of TLR-9 protein expression in rabbit CVE after intravaginal administration of nisin (15.15 mM in 2 mL of 1% polycarbophil gel) (b), SDS (56 M in 2 mL of 1% polycarbophil gel), (c) and 2 mL of 1% placebo gel (a) for 14 consecutive days. Expression was found to be localized in the cytoplasm of cells. Note significant increase of TLR expression in SDS gel group (c) compared to placebo (a) and nisin gel administered (b) groups. Similar expression pattern was observed in TLR-5. The figures shown are the representative pictures from three independent experiments (Mag X 40; inset image X 630).
