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Vaginal lactobacilli produce anti-inflammatory beta-carboline compounds.

Webber, C. A.; Glick, V. J.; Martin, M.; Kim, C.; Ahmad, M.; Simmons, L. E.; Bang, S.; Chao, M. C.; Howard, N. C.; Fortune, S. M.; Beura, L. K.; Lee, S. Y.; Clardy, J.; Kim, K. H.; Gopinath, S.

2024-02-19 microbiology
10.1101/2024.02.19.580919 bioRxiv
Show abstract

The vaginal microbiome is a lactobacilli-dominant, human-adapted community consistently found in people around the world. Presence of lactobacilli-dominant vaginal microbial communities, apart from Lactobacillus iners, is associated with reduced vaginal inflammation and reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Loss of lactobacilli-dominance is associated with inflammatory conditions such as bacterial vaginosis. It remains unclear if health-associated lactobacilli actively promote the anti-inflammatory immune homeostasis of the vaginal mucosa and if so, by which mechanisms. We have identified that Lactobacillus crispatus, a key vaginal bacterial species, secretes a family of {beta}-carboline compounds with anti-inflammatory activity. These compounds suppress NF{kappa}B and interferon signaling downstream of multiple pattern recognition receptors in human macrophages and significantly dampen type I interferon receptor activation. Topical vaginal application of an anti-inflammatory {beta}-carboline compound, perlolyrine, was sufficient to significantly reduce vaginal inflammation in a mouse model of genital herpes infection. Together, we identify a key family of compounds by which vaginal lactobacilli mediate host immune homeostasis and could highlight a new therapeutic avenue for vaginal inflammation.

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