Circulatory Inflammatory Cytokines and Microbiome Diversity among Adult Females at Risk of Cervical Cancer

Abstract

Cervical cancer continues to be a global burden, especially in LMICs. Currently, the role of dysbiosis in immune modulation that favours carcinogenesis is been highlighted. The main purpose of this study was to assess the association between circulatory inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and INF-γ) and cervico-vaginal microbiome diversity among adult females in a rural population. A total of 157 women of 21- 80 years old were recruited and closed-ended questionnaires were used to obtain data on awareness and knowledge of HPV infection and cervical cancer. Conventional Pap smear test, culture and ELISA were employed for cytology, bacteria isolation and cytokines estimation respectively. Mean age of the participants was 41.2 (1.1) years. Among the participants 36% (56/157) and 10% (16/157) were aware and had knowledge of Cervical cancer and HPV infection respectively. The primary sources of information were mainly broadcasting media (68.0%) and health care workers/facilities (53.0%). Participants with LSIL+ were 14/157 (8.9%). The significant infection among LSIL+ were Bacterial vaginosis and Candida (p<0.05). The significant bacteria isolate among LSIL+ were Staphylococcus aureus (22/101, 21.8%), Escherichia coli (32/101, 31.7%) and Citrobacter spp. (16/101. 15.8%). Finally, IL-10 concentrations increased among participants with dysbiosis and LSIL+ (RTI vs LSIL+RTI vs HSIL+RTI) [9.98(1.85) vs 13.61(3.648) vs 15.11(4.70) vs 9.22 (3.91) pg/nl respectively, p>0.05]. In conclusion, knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer and HPV infection among the adult women in rural communities is limited and dysbiosis possibly influenced immune suppression thus favouring the microenvironment for tumorigenesis.