Human beta defensin levels and vaginal microbiome composition in post-menopausal women diagnosed with lichen sclerosus

Scientific Reports

Kinga Komka¹  Márta Medvecz²  Miklós Sárdy²  Alexandra Brunner²  Eszter Ostorházi³  Máté Gugolya⁴  Nóra Makra⁴  Dóra Szabó⁴  Márió Gajdács⁵ 

[1] Department of Chemical and Environmental Process Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary;Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary;Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary;Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary;Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary;Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary;Department of Pharmacodynamics and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary;

DOI  :  10.1038/s41598-021-94880-4

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

Human beta defensins (hBDs) may play an important role in the progression of lichen sclerosus (LS), due to their ability to induce excessive stimulation of extracellular matrix synthesis and fibroblast activation. The genetic ability of the individual to produce defensins, the presence of microbes influencing defensin production, and the sensitivity of microbes to defensins together regulate the formation of an ever-changing balance between defensin levels and microbiome composition. We investigated the potential differences in postmenopausal vaginal microbiome composition and vaginal hBD levels in LS patients compared to non-LS controls. LS patients exhibited significantly lower levels of hBD1 (p = 0.0003), and significantly higher levels of hBD2 (p = 0.0359) and hBD3 (p = 0.0002), compared to the control group. The microbiome of the LS patients was dominated by possibly harmful bacteria including Lactobacillus iners, Streptococcus anginosus or Gardnerella vaginalis known to initiate direct or indirect damage by increasing defensin level production. Our observations highlight that correcting the composition of the microbiome may be applicable in supplementary LS therapy by targeting the restoration of the beneficial flora that does not increase hBD2-3 production.

【 授权许可】

CC BY