1. Injectable contraceptives: Good or Bad?
Léanie Kleynhans
Supervisor: Dr Katharina Ronacher
Department of Biomedical Sciences
University of Stellenbosch
SUN Immunology Research Group
SUN Immunology Research Group

2. (Medroxyprogesterone Acetate)
MPA
3 months injectable contraceptive
R6,03
Connect last sentence in first section with second section
SUN Immunology Research Group
(Medroxyprogesterone Acetate)

3. Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (Norethisterone enanthate)
NET
2 months injectable contraceptive
R12,91
Connect last sentence in first section with second section
(Norethisterone enanthate)
SUN Immunology Research Group

4. What do we know about MPA?
Makes women more prone to HIV
Increased number of HIV viruses in vagina
Increases risk of spreading HIV to male partners
Functions in similar way as the stress hormone cortisol
SUN Immunology Research Group

5. MPA most commonly used contraceptive in areas with high TB infection rates
Contraceptives used in TB household contacts Ravensmead/Uitsig, Cape Town
SUN Immunology Research Group

6. Our study
MPA
MPA and TB-causing bacteria added to blood in artificial system.
Extracted blood from MPA users and non-contraceptive users. Added TB-causing bacteria.
3 Injected MPA and TB-causing bacteria into mice to investigated the development disease.
MPA vs
SUN Immunology Research Group

7. 1. MPA alters the functioning of immune cells
HUMAN STUDY:
MPA
Levels of immune “messengers”
Expression level
(Kleynhans et al PLoS ONE 6:e24639)
SUN Immunology Research Group

8. 2. MPA-use alters functioning of immune cells in women using this contraceptivevs
Expression level
Levels of immune “messengers”
(Kleynhans et al PLoS ONE 6:e24639)
SUN Immunology Research Group

9. 3. MPA users have lower levels of immune cells called monocytesvs
Monocytes
Group: p =
Time: p =
log10 Monocytes R F6
F18
Time point
0.73
0.74
0.75
0.76
0.77
0.78
0.79
0.80
0.81
0.82
0.83
Cell numbers
Immune cells: monocytes
MPA users
Controls
Time
(Kleynhans et al PLoS ONE 6:e24639)
SUN Immunology Research Group

10. Collect lung tissue MOUSE STUDY: Day 8: TB Infection Day 1: MPA
3 weeks
8 weeks
16 weeks
Collect lung tissue
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11. 4. Mice injected with MPA and TB bacteria have more bacteria in their lungs
Bacterial load
Bacteria in lungs TB
TB + MPA
SUN Immunology Research Group

12. Does NET alter the functioning of immune cells?
Levels of immune “messengers”
Expression level
SUN Immunology Research Group

13. Are injectable contraceptives good or bad?
Take home message…
MPA limits normal functioning of certain immune cells
MPA users have lower levels of the immune cells called monocytes
Mice injected with MPA have more bacteria in their lungs than untreated mice
NET does not limit immune functions
Are injectable contraceptives good or bad?
SUN Immunology Research Group

14. National Research Foundation Harry Crossley
Acknowledgements
Collaborators at UCT
Prof Muazzam Jacobs
Dr Nasiema Allie
Dr Petrus Steyn
Funding
National Research Foundation
Harry Crossley
South Africa TB AIDS Training Program (SATBAT)
KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for TB-HIV (K-RITH)
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Dr Katharina Ronacher
Prof Gerhard Walzl
Nelita du Plessis
Lizaan Ehlers
Prof Martin Kidd
SUN Immunology Research Group