It is well established that the innate immune system changes with aging or immune senescence.62–65 In elderly patients, NK cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and neutrophils show impaired function as well as decreased toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated cytokine responses. Aging has been shown to impair responses Doxorubicin to viral infections including HIV, HSV, CMV, and Influenza; one mechanism is thought

to be the functional impairment of plasmacytoid dendritic cells, the major producer of type I interferons, which are essential for combating viral infections.66 Several studies have demonstrated that innate immune factors are compromised in the FRT of post-menopausal women. A general decline in several immunomodulatory factors has been reported that appear to be age related as well as attributed to the loss of endocrine responsiveness.67 As multiple immune factors of the FRT are estrogen responsive, the loss of estrogen with aging results in loss of TLR function, secretory antimicrobial components, commensal lactobacilli, and acidity of vaginal microenvironment.68 Vaginal epithelium thins significantly in the non-estrogenic post-menopausal state. There is also lack of production

of cervical mucus, which itself is a protective barrier against pathogens.69 Gender-specific STA-9090 mouse decline of immune responses in the elderly have been described (reviewed by Refs 62,70). Post-menopausal women show higher chronic levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, MCP1, and TNFα as well as a reduced ability to respond to pathogens or stimuli (Reviewed by

Refs 62,70). Mselle et al.71 have shown that inactive endometrium has lower numbers of NK cells compared to endometrium of cycling Thalidomide women. A few studies have addressed the loss of specific antimicrobials in the FRT of post-menopausal women. Production of defensins has been shown to change under the influence of sex hormones.72 Han et al.,73 demonstrated that estradiol can enhance the production of HBD2 whereas progesterone can decrease it. Fahey et al.74 reported a loss of antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in the uterine secretions of post-menopausal women and correlated this with a loss of SLPI secretion, a molecule well known for bactericidal and viricidal activity.74,75 Shimoya et al.76 confirmed lower SLPI levels in cervical vaginal secretions from post-menopausal women and further showed that hormone replacement therapy in elderly women increased SLPI levels. In our studies (M. Ghosh, J. V. Fahey, S. Cu-Uvin, C. R. Wira, unpublished observations), we observed a reduction in anti-HIV activity in CVL from post-menopausal compared to pre-menopausal women. Using Luminex analyses we found that post-menopausal CVL contained higher levels of proinflammatory IL1α and lower levels of Elafin (Ghosh, unpublished observation) when compared to pre-menopausal controls.