Abstract
Background. Bacterial vaginosis increases the susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections and negatively affects women's reproductive health. Methods. To investigate host-vaginal microbiota interactions and the impact on immune barrier function, we colonized 3-dimensional (3-D) human vaginal epithelial cells with 2 predominant species of vaginal microbiota (Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus crispatus) or 2 prevalent bacteria associated with bacterial vaginosis (Atopobium vaginae and Prevotella bivia). Results. Colonization of 3-D vaginal epithelial cell aggregates with vaginal microbiota was observed with direct attachment to host cell surface with no cytotoxicity. A. vaginae infection yielded increased expression membrane-associated mucins and evoked a robust proinflammatory, immune response in 3-D vaginal epithelial cells (ie, expression of CCL20, hBD-2, interleukin 1β, interleukin 6, interleukin 8, and tumor necrosis factor α) that can negatively affect barrier function. However, P. bivia and L. crispatus did not significantly upregulate pattern-recognition receptor-signaling, mucin expression, antimicrobial peptides/defensins, or proinflammatory cytokines in 3-D vaginal epithelial cell aggregates. Notably, L. iners induced pattern-recognition receptor-signaling activity, but no change was observed in mucin expression or secretion of interleukin 6 and interleukin 8. Conclusions. We identified unique species-specific immune signatures from vaginal epithelial cells elicited by colonization with commensal and bacterial vaginosis-associated bacteria. A. vaginae elicited a signature that is consistent with significant disruption of immune barrier properties, potentially resulting in enhanced susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections during bacterial vaginosis.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1989-1999 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Journal of Infectious Diseases |
Volume | 209 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 15 2014 |
Keywords
- Atopobium vaginae
- Lactobacillus spp.
- Prevotella bivia
- antimicrobial peptides
- barrier function
- epithelial cell
- female reproductive tract
- innate immunity
- mucin
- sexually transmitted infection
- toll-like receptor
- vagina
- vaginal microbiota and bacterial vaginosis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Infectious Diseases