Journal of International Obstetrics and Gynecology ›› 2011, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (6): 500-504.

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Pathogenicity of Ureaplasma Urealyticum and Toll-like Receptors

KUANG Si-si,ZHANG Hong-wen,WU Xian-qing   

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University,Changsha 410011,China
  • Received:1900-01-01 Revised:1900-01-01 Published:2011-12-15 Online:2011-12-15
  • Contact: ZHANG Hong-wen

Abstract: Ureaplasma species (Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealyticum) are commonly found in the lower urogenital tract of healthy human as a kind of important opportunistic Bacteria. It is proved Ureaplasma spp. is associated with many acute and chronic infections of the urogenital tract. Recent studies show that ureaplasma infection may be involved in HPV infection and cytological abnormalities of cervix, but the roles of Ureaplasma plays in the pathogenesis of HPV-positive and abnormal cytology of cervix are still unclear. The plasma membrane of Ureaplasma species contains a lot of lipoprotein, called lipid-associated membrane protein(LAMPs), which may be an important Pathogen-associated molecular pattern. The LAMPs of Ureaplasma species can bind to specific TLRs of host cells, activating signaling transduction pathways, starting gene transcription and translation of proinflammatory cytokines, and then releasing a variety of pro-inflammatory factors, triggering inflammatory responses of the host. This progress may be an important pathogenic mechanism of Ureaplasma species. Here, we will review the association of Ureaplasma species infection and HPV infection and the relationship between TLRs and The ureaplasma lipid-associated membrane proteins.

Key words: Ureaplasma urealyticum, Bacterial adhesion, Membrane proteins, Toll-like receptors, Human papillomavirus