Effect of Polyethylene Glycol Microspheres Adsorbed with Melatonin on Oxidative Stress and Viscosity of Cervical Mucus Samples Infected with Human Papillomavirus

Abstract

The interfaces of hormones and endogenous molecules associated with nanostructured materials is one of the ways to evaluate the therapeutic potential. Melatonin is a neurohormone that is related to oxidative metabolism. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the principal etiological agent of cervical cancer. Cervical mucus is a biological system whose main function is the protection of the uterine cervix. This study aims to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of melatonin on oxidative stress and rheological behavior of cervical mucus. The cervical mucus was analyzed the melatonin concentration, viscosity, superoxide, and the superoxide dismutase. Melatonin showed lower concentration in the cervical mucus from women infected with HPV. The viscosity was lowest in mucus from women infected with oncogenic HPV. The positive samples for HPV also showed high superoxide release and reduced CuZn-SOD levels indicating oxidative stress. Melatonin adsorbed to the polyethylene glycol microsphere (PEG-MLT) was efficient in restoring the viscosity, superoxide anion, and CuZn-SOD at similar levels to mucus from women negative for HPV. These data suggest that in high-risk HPV infections, there is a decrease in melatonin levels and the viscosity of cervical mucus. PEG-MLT was efficient in reducing oxidative stress and restoring viscosity of cervical mucus.