Imbalance of vaginal microbiota and immunity: two main accomplices of cervical cancer

Abstract Objective: To explore the relationship between female vaginal microbiota and immune factors and its correlation with cervical cancer. Methods: Here, we assessed the distribution patterns of microbiota in four groups of women from cervical cancer, HPV positive CIN, HPV positive non-CIN and HPV negative women. Microbial 16S rDNA sequencing and Protein chip were used to detect the composition and changes of vaginal microbiota and immune factors in the four groups, respectively. Results: Alpha diversity analysis showed that the diversity of the vaginal microbiota increased with disease. OTUs analysis showed that the level of vaginal flora genus was dominated by Lactobacillus, Prevotella and Gardnerella in these four groups. LEfSe analysis showed that compared with the HPV negative group, the differentially dominant bacteria included Prevotella, Ralstonia and Gardnerella in the cervical cancer group, Gardnerella, Prevotella and Sneathia in the HPV positive CIN group and Gardnerella and Prevotella in the HPV positive non-CIN group, respectively. Lactobacillus and Atopobium were predominant in the HPV negative group (LDA>4log10). Compared with other groups, the abundance of Lactobacillusdecreased, the abundance of Prevotella and Gardnerellaincreased, and the contents of immune inflammatory factors IP-10 and VEGF-A increased in the cervical cancer group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The occurrence of cervical cancer is related to the change of vaginal microbiota and body immune status. Cervical cancer patients have increased vaginal microbiota diversity and increased immune inflammatory factors, which creates a favorable inflammatory environment for the occurrence of cancer. Therefore, it is of great significance to adjust and restore the balance of vaginal microbiota and maintain normal immune function in the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer. This trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (www.chictr.org.cn) (trial registration number ChiCTR2200060479,First registration time: 03 / 06 / 2022).