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 () in cervical cancer. Functional assays, including cell proliferation assay, tube formation assay, and immunofluorescence staining, revealed the effect of -treated macrophages on cell proliferation and the angiogenesis process. The tube formation assay disclosed the function of -treated macrophages on angiogenesis. In vivo assays were also established to explore the impact of -treated macrophages on tumor migration. The results revealed that -induced macrophages boosted cervical cancer migration and angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. Then, this study unveiled that -induced macrophage secreted VEGF to stimulate the angiogenesis in cervical cancer. As a whole, -induced macrophage facilitates cervical cancer development through modulation of VEGF expression.