The relationship between the vaginal and vulvar microbiomes and lichen sclerosus symptoms in post-menopausal women
Abstract Lichen sclerosus is a chronic inflammatory condition of unknown etiology that affects the genital and extragenital skin, which can lead to sexual dysfunction and has been associated with vulvar cancer. The vaginal microbiome has a critical role in gynecologic health, but little is known abo...
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Nature Portfolio
2024-11-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78372-9 |
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| author | Oluwatobiloba A. Taylor Kenzie D. Birse D.’Atra J. Hill Samantha Knodel Laura Noel-Romas Anna Myers Jean Marino Adam D. Burgener Rachel Pope Christina Farr Zuend |
| author_facet | Oluwatobiloba A. Taylor Kenzie D. Birse D.’Atra J. Hill Samantha Knodel Laura Noel-Romas Anna Myers Jean Marino Adam D. Burgener Rachel Pope Christina Farr Zuend |
| author_sort | Oluwatobiloba A. Taylor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Lichen sclerosus is a chronic inflammatory condition of unknown etiology that affects the genital and extragenital skin, which can lead to sexual dysfunction and has been associated with vulvar cancer. The vaginal microbiome has a critical role in gynecologic health, but little is known about the microbiome in lichen sclerosus. This study investigated the vaginal and vulvar microbiomes of 27 post-menopausal women with lichen sclerosus. The most abundant genera detected in the vaginal microbiome were Lactobacillus, Gardnerella, and Anaerococcus, while Lactobacillus, Anaerococcus, and Staphylococcus were the most abundant in the vulvar microbiome. The vaginal samples clustered into two main groups, Lactobacillus dominant (n = 6, > 50% microbiome Lactobacillus) and polymicrobial (n = 21) with no dominant genus. The vulvar samples were mainly polymicrobial (n = 25). Actinomyces, Anaerococcus, and Ezakiella in the vaginal microbiome and Actinomyces and Ezakiella in the vulvar microbiome were significantly associated with lichen sclerosus symptoms (adjusted p < 0.05). In this population of post-menopausal women with lichen sclerosus the majority have diverse, non-Lactobacillus dominant microbiomes, which is considered less optimal for gynecologic health based on studies of pre-menopausal women. Actinomyces, Ezakiella, and Anaerococcus were associated with lichen sclerosus symptoms. Understanding the role of these bacteria in lichen sclerosus pathogenesis will be an essential future investigation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6897a288acd0439b83b8c9bcb24a33c6 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-6897a288acd0439b83b8c9bcb24a33c62024-11-10T12:25:07ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111010.1038/s41598-024-78372-9The relationship between the vaginal and vulvar microbiomes and lichen sclerosus symptoms in post-menopausal womenOluwatobiloba A. Taylor0Kenzie D. Birse1D.’Atra J. Hill2Samantha Knodel3Laura Noel-Romas4Anna Myers5Jean Marino6Adam D. Burgener7Rachel Pope8Christina Farr Zuend9Center for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of MedicineDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of ManitobaCenter for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of MedicineCenter for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of MedicineCenter for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of MedicineDivision of Female Sexual Health, Urology Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical CenterDivision of Female Sexual Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical CenterCenter for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of MedicineDivision of Female Sexual Health, Urology Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical CenterCenter for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of MedicineAbstract Lichen sclerosus is a chronic inflammatory condition of unknown etiology that affects the genital and extragenital skin, which can lead to sexual dysfunction and has been associated with vulvar cancer. The vaginal microbiome has a critical role in gynecologic health, but little is known about the microbiome in lichen sclerosus. This study investigated the vaginal and vulvar microbiomes of 27 post-menopausal women with lichen sclerosus. The most abundant genera detected in the vaginal microbiome were Lactobacillus, Gardnerella, and Anaerococcus, while Lactobacillus, Anaerococcus, and Staphylococcus were the most abundant in the vulvar microbiome. The vaginal samples clustered into two main groups, Lactobacillus dominant (n = 6, > 50% microbiome Lactobacillus) and polymicrobial (n = 21) with no dominant genus. The vulvar samples were mainly polymicrobial (n = 25). Actinomyces, Anaerococcus, and Ezakiella in the vaginal microbiome and Actinomyces and Ezakiella in the vulvar microbiome were significantly associated with lichen sclerosus symptoms (adjusted p < 0.05). In this population of post-menopausal women with lichen sclerosus the majority have diverse, non-Lactobacillus dominant microbiomes, which is considered less optimal for gynecologic health based on studies of pre-menopausal women. Actinomyces, Ezakiella, and Anaerococcus were associated with lichen sclerosus symptoms. Understanding the role of these bacteria in lichen sclerosus pathogenesis will be an essential future investigation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78372-9Lichen sclerosusMicrobiomeVaginaVulvaMenopause16S rRNA sequencing |
| spellingShingle | Oluwatobiloba A. Taylor Kenzie D. Birse D.’Atra J. Hill Samantha Knodel Laura Noel-Romas Anna Myers Jean Marino Adam D. Burgener Rachel Pope Christina Farr Zuend The relationship between the vaginal and vulvar microbiomes and lichen sclerosus symptoms in post-menopausal women Scientific Reports Lichen sclerosus Microbiome Vagina Vulva Menopause 16S rRNA sequencing |
| title | The relationship between the vaginal and vulvar microbiomes and lichen sclerosus symptoms in post-menopausal women |
| title_full | The relationship between the vaginal and vulvar microbiomes and lichen sclerosus symptoms in post-menopausal women |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between the vaginal and vulvar microbiomes and lichen sclerosus symptoms in post-menopausal women |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between the vaginal and vulvar microbiomes and lichen sclerosus symptoms in post-menopausal women |
| title_short | The relationship between the vaginal and vulvar microbiomes and lichen sclerosus symptoms in post-menopausal women |
| title_sort | relationship between the vaginal and vulvar microbiomes and lichen sclerosus symptoms in post menopausal women |
| topic | Lichen sclerosus Microbiome Vagina Vulva Menopause 16S rRNA sequencing |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-78372-9 |
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