Vaginal microecology in cervical dysplasia: characteristics of the main parameters (literature review)
https://doi.org/10.58708/2074-2088.2026-1(37)-35-45
Abstract
This article examines the key parameters of vaginal microecology in cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer. The vaginal microbiota, host endocrine system, vaginal anatomy, and local immunity collectively constitute the vaginal microecology. The physiological interaction of vaginal microecological factors maintains the balance of the vaginal microenvironment and ensures a woman›s reproductive health. A balanced vaginal microenvironment improves the barrier function of the mucous membranes and immune function, facilitating the prevention and elimination of human papillomavirus (HPV). Conversely, disruptions in the vaginal microecology weaken these protective mechanisms, increasing susceptibility to HPV infection. Studying the vaginal microecology and its role in the development and progression of precancerous pathology and cervical cancer is essential for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of these diseases. In recent years, this topic has received considerable research attention.
References
1. Ye, J Vaginal microecology and its role in human papillomavirus infection and human papillomavirus associated cervical lesions / J. Ye, X. Qi // APMIS. – 2024. – Vol. 132, №12. – P. 928-947. doi: 10.1111/apm.13356
2. Cui M, Wu Y, Liu Z, Liu Y, Fan L. Advances in the interrelated nature of vaginal microecology, HPV infection, and cervical lesions. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2025 Jun 19;15:1608195. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2025.1608195
3. Kyrgiou M, Moscicki AB. Vaginal microbiome and cervical cancer. Semin Cancer Biol. 2022 Nov;86(Pt 3):189-198. doi: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.03.005
4. Anahtar M.N., Gootenberg D.B., Mitchell C.M., et al. Cervicovaginal Microbiota and Reproductive Health: The Virtue of Simplicity. Cell Host Microbe. 2018;23(2):159–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2018.01.013
5. Dong M., Dong Y., Bai J., et al. Interactions between microbiota and cervical epithelial, immune, and mucus barrier. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023;13:1124591. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1124591
6. Auriemma RS, Scairati R, Del Vecchio G, Liccardi A, Verde N, Pirchio R, Pivonello R, Ercolini D, Colao A. The Vaginal Microbiome: A Long Urogenital Colonization Throughout Woman Life. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2021 Jul 6;11:686167. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.686167
7. Pendharkar S, Skafte-Holm A, Simsek G, Haahr T. Lactobacilli and Their Probiotic Effects in the Vagina of Reproductive Age Women. Microorganisms. 2023 Mar 1;11(3):636. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11030636
8. Xu H, Zhang S, Zhang B, Jiang N, Xu Y, Chen X, Han L. Vaginal colonization of Lactobacilli: Mechanism and function. Microb Pathog. 2025 Jan;198:107141. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.107141
9. Storchak, A. V. Problematic issues of restoration of vaginal biocenosis / A. V. Storchak, O. V. Grishchenko // Protection of motherhood and childhood. - 2017. - Vol. 2, №30. - P. 67-75. (in Russian)
10. Wang C, Fan A, Li H, Yan Y, Qi W, Wang Y, Han C, Xue F. Vaginal bacterial profiles of aerobic vaginitis: a case-control study. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020 Apr;96(4):114981. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2019.114981
11. Brotman RM, Shardell MD, Gajer P, Tracy JK, Zenilman JM, Ravel J, Gravitt PE. Interplay between the temporal dynamics of the vaginal microbiota and human papillomavirus detection. J Infect Dis. 2014 Dec 1;210(11):1723-33. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiu330
12. Zhang Z, Ma Q, Zhang L, Ma L, Wang D, Yang Y, Jia P, Wu Y, Wang F. Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer in the microbial world: exploring the vaginal microecology. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2024 Jan 25;14:1325500. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1325500
13. Boris S, Barbés C. Role played by lactobacilli in controlling the population of vaginal pathogens. Microbes Infect. 2000 Apr;2(5):543-6. doi: 10.1016/s1286-4579(00)00313-0
14. Shen J, Sun H, Chu J, Gong X, Liu X. Cervicovaginal microbiota: a promising direction for prevention and treatment in cervical cancer. Infect Agent Cancer. 2024 Apr 19;19(1):13. doi: 10.1186/s13027-024-00573-8
15. Hearps AC, Tyssen D, Srbinovski D, Bayigga L, Diaz DJD, Aldunate M, Cone RA, Gugasyan R, Anderson DJ, Tachedjian G. Vaginal lactic acid elicits an anti-inflammatory response from human cervicovaginal epithelial cells and inhibits production of pro-inflammatory mediators associated with HIV acquisition. Mucosal Immunol. 2017 Nov;10(6):1480-1490. doi: 10.1038/mi.2017.27
16. Boyarineva I.V., Khamagaeva I.S., Muruev I.E. Research of antibiotic activity and antibiotic resistance of pure cultur of Propionibacterium freudenreichii sh-85 and acidophilus bacillus for further use of cultures in the production of bacterial concentrate/ The Scientific Heritage, №. 44-2 (44), 2020, P. 3-6. (in Russian)
17. A.N. Irkitova, Ya.R. Kagan, G.G. Sokolova Effect of Aerobic and Anaerobic Cultivation Conditions on Antagonistic Activity of Lactobacillus acidophilus to Escherichia coli- News of Altai State University. – 2013. –Vol. 1, №. 3. – P. 076-079. (in Russian)
18. Klebanoff S. J., Coombs R. W. Viricidal effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus on human immunodeficiency virus type 1: possible role in heterosexual transmission // J. Exp. Med. 1991; 174 (1): 289–292
19. Nikolaeva, S.V. The role of lactic acid bacteria in human health / S.V. Nikolaeva // Lechaschi Vrach. - 2013. - No. 2 – URL: https://www.lvrach.ru/2013/02/15435630(in Russian)
20. Rakhmatullaevа M.M., Nаvruzovа N.О. Lactobacilli of the vagina: their types, properties and role in vaginal biotope. Doktor Axborotnomаsi. 2019;2:154–158. (in Russian) https://inlibrary.uz/index.php/doctors_herald/article/view/2466 (дата обращения 20.01.2026).
21. Ravel J., Gajer P., Abdo Z. et al. Vaginal microbiome of reproductive-age women // Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. — 2011 — Vol. 108, № 1 — Р. 4680–4687.
22. France MT, Ma B, Gajer P, Brown S, Humphrys MS, Holm JB, Waetjen LE, Brotman RM, Ravel J. VALENCIA: a nearest centroid classification method for vaginal microbial communities based on composition. Microbiome. 2020 Nov 23;8(1):166. doi: 10.1186/s40168-020-00934-6
23. France M, Alizadeh M, Brown S, Ma B, Ravel J. Towards a deeper understanding of the vaginal microbiota. Nat Microbiol. 2022 Mar;7(3):367-378. doi: 10.1038/s41564-022-01083-2
24. Ravel J, Gajer P, Abdo Z, Schneider GM, Koenig SS, McCulle SL, Karlebach S, Gorle R, Russell J, Tacket CO, Brotman RM, Davis CC, Ault K, Peralta L, Forney LJ. Vaginal microbiome of reproductive-age women. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Mar 15;108 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):4680-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1002611107
25. Muzny C.A., Blanchard E., Taylor C.M., Aaron K.J., Talluri R., Griswold M.E., et al. Identification of Key Bacteria Involved in the Induction of Incident Bacterial Vaginosis: A Prospective Study. J Infect Dis. 2018;218(6):966-978. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiy243
26. Nunn K.L., Forney L.J. Unraveling the Dynamics of the Human Vaginal Microbiome. Yale J Biol Med. 2016;89(3):331-337
27. Van der Waaij D. The digestive tract in immunocompromised patients: importance of maintaining its resistance to colonization, especially in hospital in-patients and those taking antibiotics. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 1984; 50: 745–761
28. Fofanova, I.Y. Possibilities of regulation of the vaginal microflora. Pharmateca. – 2011. – № 12. – P.71–74. (in Russian).
29. Sozonova E.A., Chapova N.E., Budanova E.V. Dynamic changes in the women’s vaginal microbiota. Gynecology, Obstetrics and Perinatology. 2021;20(4):106–114. (in Russian) https://doi.org/10.20953/1726-1678-2021-4-106-114
30. Frąszczak K., Barczyński B., Kondracka A. Does Lactobacillus Exert a Protective Effect on the Development of Cervical and Endometrial Cancer in Women? Cancers (Basel). 2022;14(19):4909. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14194909
31. Usyk M, Zolnik CP, Castle PE, Porras C, Herrero R, Gradissimo A, Gonzalez P, Safaeian M, Schiffman M, Burk RD; Costa Rica HPV Vaccine Trial (CVT) Group. Cervicovaginal microbiome and natural history of HPV in a longitudinal study. PLoS Pathog. 2020 Mar 26;16(3):e1008376. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008376
32. Mortaki D, Gkegkes ID, Psomiadou V, Blontzos N, Prodromidou A, Lefkopoulos F, Nicolaidou E. Vaginal microbiota and human papillomavirus: a systematic review. J Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc. 2020 Sep 3;21(3):193-200. doi: 10.4274/jtgga.galenos.2019.2019.0051
33. Ilyina, T. S. Bacterial biofilms: role in chronic infectious processes and search for means to combat them / T. S. Ilyina, Yu. M. Romanova // Molecular genetics, microbiology and virology.– 2021. –Т. 39, № 2. – С. 14–24. (in Russian)
34. Tets V.V., Tets G.V. Microbial biofilms and problems of antibiotic therapy. Atmosphere. Pulmonology and Allergology. 2013;4:60–64. (in Russian)
35. Sponza D.T. Investigation of extracellular polymer substances (EPS) and physicochemical properties of different activated sludge flocs under steady-state conditions. Enzyme Microb Technol. 2003;32:375–85.
36. Khryanin, A.A. Modern concepts of microbial biofilms/ A.A. Khryanin, Knorring G.Yu.// Pharmateka. – 2020. - №6. – С. 34-42. https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/pharmateca.2020.6.34-42 (in Russian)
37. Kalia N, Singh J, Kaur M. Microbiota in vaginal health and pathogenesis of recurrent vulvovaginal infections: a critical review. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2020 Jan 28;19(1):5. doi: 10.1186/s12941-020-0347-4
38. Ventolini G., Mitchell E., Salazar M. Biofilm formation by vaginal Lactobacillus in vivo, Medical Hypotheses, Volume 84, Issue 5, 2015, P. 417-420, ISSN 0306-9877, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2014.12.020
39. Zakaria Gomaa E. Antimicrobial and anti-adhesive properties of biosurfactant produced by lactobacilli isolates, biofilm formation and aggregation ability. J Gen Appl MicrobioL.2013;59:425–436. https://doi.org/10.2323/jgam.59.425
40. Li Z, Behrens AM, Ginat N, Tzeng SY, Lu X, Sivan S, Langer R, Jaklenec A. Biofilm-Inspired Encapsulation of Probiotics for the Treatment of Complex Infections. Adv Mater. 2018 Dec;30(51):e1803925. doi: 10.1002/adma.201803925
41. Parolin C, Croatti V, Laghi L, Giordani B, Tondi MR, De Gregorio PR, Foschi C, Vitali B. Lactobacillus Biofilms Influence Anti-Candida Activity. Front Microbiol. 2021 Oct 29;12:750368. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.750368
42. Glushanova N.A. Biological properties of lactobacillus. Bulletin of Siberian Medicine. 2003;2(4):50-58. https://doi.org/10.20538/1682-0363-2003-4-50-58(in Russian)
43. Kyrgiou M., Mitra A., Moscicki AB. Does the vaginal microbiota play a role in the development of cervical cancer? // Transl Res. 2017. №179. P. 168–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trsl.2016.07.004
44. So KA., Yang EJ., Kim NR. et al. Changes of vaginal microbiota during cervical carcinogenesis in women with human papillomavirus infection // PLoS One. 2020. Vol. 15. №9. P. 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238705
45. Yang Y., Zhu J., Feng R. et al. Altered vaginal cervical microbiota diversity contributes to HPV-induced cervical cancer via inflammation regulation // PeerJ. 2024. №12. P.17415. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.17415
46. Schellekens H., Schmidt L., Morré S. et al. Vaginal Microbiota and Local Immunity in HPV-Induced High-Grade Cervical Dysplasia: A Narrative Review // Int J Mol Sci. 2025. Vol. 26. №9. P. 3954. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26093954
47. Carrero YN, Callejas DE, Mosquera JA. In situ immunopathological events in human cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer: Review // Transl Oncol. 2021. Vol. 14. №5. P. 101058. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranon.2021.101058
48. Zídek Z., Anzenbacher P., Kmonícková E. Current status and challenges of cytokine pharmacology // Br J Pharmacol. 2009. Vol. 157. №3. P. 342–361. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2009.00206.x
49. Mantovani A, Allavena P, Sica A. et al. Cancer-related inflammation // Nature. 2008. Vol. 454. №7203 P. 436–44. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature07205
50. Valle-Mendiola A., Gutiérrez-Hoya A., Lagunas-Cruz Mdel C. et al. Pleiotropic Effects of IL-2 on Cancer: Its Role in Cervical Cancer // Mediators Inflamm. 2016. Vol.2016. ID.2849523. P. 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/2849523
51. Tiis R.P., Osipova L.P. Interleukin-6: it’s role in the organism, genetic polymorphism and significance in certain diseases (literature review). Medical Genetics. 2022;21(1):14-27. https://doi.org/10.25557/2073-7998.2022.01.14-27(in Russian)
52. Kumari N., Dwarakanath BS., Das A. et al. Role of interleukin-6 in cancer progression and therapeutic resistance // Tumour Biol. 2016. Vol. 37. №9. P. 11553–11572. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-016-5098-7
53. Alfaro C., Sanmamed MF., Rodríguez-Ruiz ME. et al. Interleukin-8 in cancer pathogenesis, treatment and follow-up // Cancer Treat Rev. 2017. Vol. 60. P. 24–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctrv.2017.08.004
54. Iwata T., Fujii T., Morii K. et al. Cytokine profile in cervical mucosa of Japanese patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia // Int J Clin Oncol. 2015. Vol. 20. №1. P. 126–133. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-014-0680-8
55. Skidanenko-Levina, O. V. Cytokine profile of cervical mucus in various forms of papillomavirus infection // Kazan Medical Journal. 2014. Vol. 95. No. 5. P. 642–645.
56. Tereshchenko I., Kayushev P. Tumor necrosis factor α and its role in pathology // RMJ. Medical Review. 2022. Vol. 6. No. 9. P. 523–527. https://doi.org/10.32364/2587-6821-2022-6-9-523-527
57. Al-Qahtani AA., Alhamlan FS., Al-Qahtani AA. Pro-Inflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Interleukins in Infectious Diseases: A Comprehensive Review // Trop Med Infect Dis. 2024. Vol. 9. №1. P. 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9010013
58. Gu Y, Li T, Zhang M, Chen J, Shen F, Ding J, Zhou G, Hua K. The Display between HPV Infection and Host Immunity in Cervical Cancer. Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). 2024 Dec 24;29(12):426. doi: 10.31083/j.fbl2912426
59. Wira CR., Rodriguez-Garcia M., Patel MV. The Role of Sex Hormones in Immune Protection of the Female Reproductive Tract // Nat Rev Immunol. 2015. Vol. 15. №4. P. 217–30. https://doi.org/10.1038/nri3819
60. Clinical immunopathology for obstetricians-gynecologists: a tutorial / D. K. Novikov [et al.]. - Minsk: Higher School, 2021. - 224 p. (in Russian)
61. Muntinga CLP, de Vos van Steenwijk PJ, Bekkers RLM, van Esch EMG. Importance of the Immune Microenvironment in the Spontaneous Regression of Cervical Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (cSIL) and Implications for Immunotherapy. J Clin Med. 2022 Mar 5;11(5):1432. doi: 10.3390/jcm11051432
62. Fernandes JV, DE Medeiros Fernandes TA, DE Azevedo JC, Cobucci RN, DE Carvalho MG, Andrade VS, DE Araújo JM. Link between chronic inflammation and human papillomavirus-induced carcinogenesis (Review). Oncol Lett. 2015 Mar;9(3):1015-1026. doi: 10.3892/ol.2015.2884
63. Lin W, Niu Z, Zhang H, Kong Y, Wang Z, Yang X, Yuan F. Imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg during the development of uterine cervical cancer. Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2019 Sep 1;12(9):3604-3612
64. Tosado-Rodríguez E, Mendez LB, Espino AM, Dorta-Estremera S, Aquino EE, Romaguera J, Godoy-Vitorino F. Inflammatory cytokines and a diverse cervicovaginal microbiota associate with cervical dysplasia in a cohort of Hispanics living in Puerto Rico. PLoS One. 2023 Dec 8;18(12):e0284673. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284673
65. Łaniewski P, Cui H, Roe DJ, Barnes D, Goulder A, Monk BJ, Greenspan DL, Chase DM, Herbst-Kralovetz MM. Features of the cervicovaginal microenvironment drive cancer biomarker signatures in patients across cervical carcinogenesis. Sci Rep. 2019 May 14;9(1):7333. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-43849-5
66. Trubnikova, L. I. Secretion of sIgA in cervical mucus in women with background diseases of the cervix / L. I. Trubnikova, N. V. Voznesenskaya, I. V. Kozhemyatova // Medical almanac. - 2009. - No. 4. - P. 134-136. (in Russian)
Review
For citations:
Lohinava V.P. Vaginal microecology in cervical dysplasia: characteristics of the main parameters (literature review). Medical and Biological Problems of Life Activity. 2026;(1):35-45. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.58708/2074-2088.2026-1(37)-35-45
Views:
34
JATS XML
Email this article 