Effect of menstrual status on antibacterial activity and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor production by human uterine epithelial cells in culture

The objective of this study was to examine the production of antibacterial factor(s) by uterine epithelial cells from pre- and postmenopausal women. Apical rinses from polarized epithelial cells recovered from women at the proliferative and secretory stages of the menstrual cycle were equally effective in killing Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, but those from postmenopausal women were not. Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) concentrations of apical washes from premenopausal women were significantly higher than those obtained from postmenopausal women. SLPI production correlated with bactericidal activity with respect to menstrual status and time in culture. Anti-SLPI antibody significantly decreased bactericidal activity of premenopausal epithelial cell rinses. The endometrial epithelial cell line HEC-1A did not have a bactericidal effect, nor did it produce SLPI. In contrast, HEC-1B cells produced SLPI and a factor that inhibited bacterial growth. These results indicate that menstrual status (pre- vs. postmenopausal) influences the production of SLPI and bactericidal activity by uterine epithelial cells.