Interactions between microbiota and cervical epithelial, immune, and mucus barrier

Abstract

The female reproductive tract harbours hundreds of bacterial species and produces numerous metabolites. The uterine cervix is located between the upper and lower parts of the female genital tract. It allows sperm and birth passage and hinders the upward movement of microorganisms into a relatively sterile uterus. It is also the predicted site for sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as Chlamydia, human papilloma virus (HPV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The healthy cervicovaginal microbiota maintains cervical epithelial barrier integrity and modulates the mucosal immune system. Perturbations of the microbiota composition accompany changes in microbial metabolites that induce local inflammation, damage the cervical epithelial and immune barrier, and increase susceptibility to STI infection and relative disease progression. This review examined the intimate interactions between the cervicovaginal microbiota, relative metabolites, and the cervical epithelial-, immune-, and mucus barrier, and the potent effect of the host-microbiota interaction on specific STI infection. An improved understanding of cervicovaginal microbiota regulation on cervical microenvironment homeostasis might promote advances in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for various STI diseases.

Association of Chlamydia trachomatis burden with the vaginal microbiota, bacterial vaginosis, and metronidazole treatment

“…However, IFU : GCN ratios are only one of many parameters that have been used to contrast productive and persistent growth states, and other confirmatory approaches, such as morphological and transcriptional characterization of Ct forms, are required to more confidently differentiate Ct growth states ( Gérard et al., 2002 ; Belland et al., 2003 ; Gérard et al., 2004 ; Lewis et al., 2014 ). When individual bacterial species within these communities were examined, L. crispatus abundance was found to inversely correlate with both total and infectious chlamydial burden, consistent with published studies describing the partial protective effect of L. crispatus on Ct infection, potentially via the production of lactic acid and other metabolites or by modulation of inflammation in the genital tract ( O'Hanlon et al., 2013 ; Gong et al., 2014 ; Nardini et al., 2016 ; Anton et al., 2018 ; Edwards et al., 2019 ; Rastogi and Singh, 2022 ; Dong et al., 2023 ; Zalambani et al., 2023 ). Additionally, both total and infectious chlamydial burden positively correlated with the abundance of P. bivia , and IFU : GCN ratios with P. amnii .…”

Microbiota dynamics, metabolic and immune interactions in the cervicovaginal environment and their role in spontaneous preterm birth

“…Although SCFAs are recognized for their beneficial effects on the gut such as enhancing the integrity of the gut epithelial membrane ( 114 ), their impact on the cervicovaginal environment appears to be detrimental. SCFAs are organic fatty acids typically containing fewer than six carbon atoms.…”

Folic acid: friend or foe in cancer therapy

“…26 Additionally, cervical tissues benefit from proper collagen structure, making them more resistant to infections and cancerous changes. 74 Regulatory effects of folic acid on enzymes S-adenosyl methionine is a naturally occurring compound that is produced as the body processes folate. One of its functions is regulating the expression and activity of CYP2E1, which converts ethanol into acetaldehyde and is primarily expressed in the liver.…”

“… 26 Additionally, cervical tissues benefit from proper collagen structure, making them more resistant to infections and cancerous changes. 74 …”