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Commensal bacteria modulate innate immune responses of vaginal epithelial cell multilayer cultures.
- Source :
-
PloS one [PLoS One] 2012; Vol. 7 (3), pp. e32728. Date of Electronic Publication: 2012 Mar 07. - Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- The human vaginal microbiome plays a critical but poorly defined role in reproductive health. Vaginal microbiome alterations are associated with increased susceptibility to sexually-transmitted infections (STI) possibly due to related changes in innate defense responses from epithelial cells. Study of the impact of commensal bacteria on the vaginal mucosal surface has been hindered by current vaginal epithelial cell (VEC) culture systems that lack an appropriate interface between the apical surface of stratified squamous epithelium and the air-filled vaginal lumen. Therefore we developed a reproducible multilayer VEC culture system with an apical (luminal) air-interface that supported colonization with selected commensal bacteria. Multilayer VEC developed tight-junctions and other hallmarks of the vaginal mucosa including predictable proinflammatory cytokine secretion following TLR stimulation. Colonization of multilayers by common vaginal commensals including Lactobacillus crispatus, L. jensenii, and L. rhamnosus led to intimate associations with the VEC exclusively on the apical surface. Vaginal commensals did not trigger cytokine secretion but Staphylococcus epidermidis, a skin commensal, was inflammatory. Lactobacilli reduced cytokine secretion in an isolate-specific fashion following TLR stimulation. This tempering of inflammation offers a potential explanation for increased susceptibility to STI in the absence of common commensals and has implications for testing of potential STI preventatives.
- Subjects :
- Bacteria isolation & purification
Bacteria ultrastructure
Cell Culture Techniques
Cytokines biosynthesis
Diglycerides pharmacology
Epithelial Cells cytology
Epithelial Cells drug effects
Epithelial Cells immunology
Female
Humans
Lactobacillus immunology
Lactobacillus isolation & purification
Mucous Membrane drug effects
Oligopeptides pharmacology
Sexually Transmitted Diseases immunology
Sexually Transmitted Diseases microbiology
Toll-Like Receptors agonists
Bacteria immunology
Immunity, Innate
Mucous Membrane immunology
Mucous Membrane microbiology
Vagina immunology
Vagina microbiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1932-6203
- Volume :
- 7
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- PloS one
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 22412914
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032728