Monkeypox virus replication and Host response in vaginal and ectocervical epithelial cells - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #Monkeypox virus
- #Female genital tract infection
- #Host-pathogen interaction
- The study investigated monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection in the lower female genital tract using vaginal (VK2/E6E7) and ectocervical (Ect1/E6E7) epithelial cells, finding both supported productive infection.
- Sex hormones (17-β-estradiol and progesterone) slightly reduced viral replication in ectocervical cells, but their overall impact on infection modulation was limited.
- MPXV infection led to differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 216 in vaginal cells and 11 in ectocervical cells, including nine shared genes involved in inflammation, tissue remodeling, and chemotaxis, such as MMP-1, whose inhibition reduced virus production.
- Ectocervical cells exhibited earlier and stronger induction of interferon responses (IFN-β and IFN-λ1) and slower viral replication compared to vaginal cells, suggesting tissue-specific antiviral mechanisms.
- The findings suggest MPXV infection in the female genital tract can disrupt tissue remodeling and inflammation, potentially affecting reproductive health and susceptibility to other sexually transmitted infections.