Escherichia coli and HPV16 coinfection may contribute to the development of cervical cancer
Qin Zou,
Yingying Wu,
ShuaiShuai Zhang,
Shu Li,
Siyue Li,
Yan Su,
Lei Zhang,
Qian Li,
Hua Zou,
Xinyuan Zhang,
Teng Wang,
Shuang Liang,
Jun Yang,
Chunli Li
Affiliations
Qin Zou
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, China
Yingying Wu
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, China
ShuaiShuai Zhang
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing, China
Shu Li
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, China
Siyue Li
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, China
Yan Su
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, China
Lei Zhang
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, China
Qian Li
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, China
Hua Zou
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, China
Xinyuan Zhang
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, China
Teng Wang
Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
Shuang Liang
Department of Pathology, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, China
Jun Yang
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, China
Chunli Li
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Women and Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children, Chongqing, China
ABSTRACTPersistent human papillomavirus HPV infection is a necessary but insufficient condition for cervical cancer. Microorganisms are crucial environmental factors in cancers susceptibility and progression, recently attracting considerable attention. This study aimed to determine the infection status and relationship between high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) and lower genital tract infectious pathogens in cervical cancer and its precursors. From a retrospective and a prospective cohort analysis, Escherichia coli (E. coli) dominated the pathogens isolated from cervical discharges, and an isolation rate uptrend has been shown recently. HPV16 and E. coli’s coinfection rate gradually increased with the severity of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The adhesion and invasion abilities of the isolated E. coli to HPV16-positive SiHa cells were evaluated in vitro. The TCGA database and cervical tissues samples analysis showed that IL-10 was upregulated in cervical cancer. IL-10 expression levels increased in tissue samples with the severity of cervical cancer and its precursors with HPV16 and E. coli coinfection. Although no significant changes in IL-10 production were observed in the co-culture supernatant, we hypothesized that Treg immune cells in the tumour microenvironment might be responsible for the local IL-10 upregulation, according to our data showing Foxp3 upregulation and an upward trend with the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grading to cancer and tumours with E. coli and HPV16 coinfection. Our data provide insights into the possible role of E. coli in cervical cancer progression and suggest that the application of HPV and E. coli screening programs may be an effective strategy to relieve the burden of cervical cancer and its precursor lesions.
