Common Cervicovaginal Microbial Supernatants Alter Cervical Epithelial Function

The study investigated the biological, molecular, and epigenetic effects of Cervicovaginal (CV) microbiota (specifically : Lactobacillus crispatus (Lc), Lactobacillus iners (Li), and Gardnerella vaginalis (Gv)) on the cervical epithelial barrier function and determined whether Lc mitigates the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Gv on the cervical epithelial barrier as a possible mechanism by which CV microbiota mitigates disease risk. Ectocervical and endocervical cells treated with Lc, Lv, and Gv bacteria-free supernatants alone or combined were used to measure cell permeability, adherens junction proteins, inflammatory mediators, and miRNAs. FINDINGS: L. crispatus mitigated the LPS or G. vaginalis-induced disruption of the cervical epithelial barrier and reversed the G. vaginalis-mediated increase in miRNA expression. G. vaginalis colonization of the CV space of a pregnant C57/B6 mouse resulted in 100% PTB.