Vaginal Microbial Environment Skews Macrophage Polarization and Contributes to Cervical Cancer Development.

As a common female reproductive system malignancy, cervical cancer (CC) disturbs numerous women's health. This study demonstrates the role of the vaginal microbial environment ( Peptostreptococcus anaerobius ) in cervical cancer. Functional assays, including cell proliferation assay, tube formation assay, and immunofluorescence staining, revealed the effect of Peptostreptococcus anaerobius -treated macrophages on cell proliferation and the angiogenesis process. The tube formation assay disclosed the function of Peptostreptococcus anaerobius -treated macrophages on angiogenesis. In vivo assays were also established to explore the impact of Peptostreptococcus anaerobius -treated macrophages on tumor migration. The results revealed that Peptostreptococcus anaerobius -induced macrophages boosted cervical cancer migration and angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. Then, this study unveiled that Peptostreptococcus anaerobius -induced macrophage secreted VEGF to stimulate the angiogenesis in cervical cancer. As a whole, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius -induced macrophage facilitates cervical cancer development through modulation of VEGF expression.