Fig. 5: Key checkpoint protein correlate with Lactobacillus and genital inflammation. | npj Precision Oncology

Fig. 5: Key checkpoint protein correlate with Lactobacillus and genital inflammation.

From: Vaginal microbiota, genital inflammation, and neoplasia impact immune checkpoint protein profiles in the cervicovaginal microenvironment

Fig. 5

Scatterplots shows correlations of immune checkpoint proteins with Lactobacillus abundance (x axis) or genital inflammatory scores (y axis). Spearman’s correlation coefficients (ρ) were calculated using levels of immune checkpoint proteins for all samples (n = 78) (a) or without cancer samples (n = 68) (b). Lactobacillus abundance was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Levels of seven cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-8, MIP-1β, MIP-3α, RANTES, and TNFα) were evaluated in CVLs and the patients were assigned a genital inflammatory score (0–7) based on whether the level of each cytokine was in the upper quartile. Significant correlations (P < 0.05) between immune checkpoint proteins and genital inflammatory scores, Lactobacillus abundance or both are indicated with red, green, and blue circles, respectively.

Back to article page