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Updated: Jun 24, 2025
Ex Vivo Infection of Human Lymphoid Tissue and Female Genital Mucosa with Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 and Histoculture
Published on: October 12, 2018
The Immunomodulation Role of Vaginal Microenvironment On Human Papillomavirus Infection
Lingyan Sun1, Li Li1, Wenxin Xu1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000, China.
Background:
Evidence suggests the role of the vaginal microbiome and microenvironment in the immunity state. The human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is widely dependent on the healthy vaginal microenvironment. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the role of the vaginal microenvironment in the rate of high-risk HPV (hr-HPV) infection.
Materials And Methods:
This cross-sectional study was performed on 512 women with hr-HPV positive (n=212) or negative (n=300) infection. The vaginal samples of women were examined regarding yeas and Gardnerella vaginalis infection. Also, Lactobacillus acidophilus, pH, and enzyme activity (such as catalase, proline aminopeptidase, and leucocyte esterase) were compared between the two groups. Also, the histopathological study was performed on the vaginal samples.
Results:
The higher rate of yeast and G. vaginalis infections as well as decreased L. acidophilus, were significantly observed in women with hr-HPV positive infection (P0.001). Also, histopathological findings indicated that cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade I-III and cervical cancer lesions were markedly higher in hr-HPV positive group compared with control women.
Conclusion:
The hr-HPV infection was markedly correlated to vaginal microenvironments, and it could a risk factor for the elevation of the rate of high-grade cervical lesions.
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