Spatial transcriptomics unveils estrogen-modulated immune responses and structural alterations in the ectocervical mucosa of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate users.

ABSTRACT: The injectable contraceptive, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), is associated with compromised cervical mucosal barriers. High-resolution spatial transcriptomics is applied here to reveal the spatial localization of these altered molecular markers. Ectocervical tissue samples from Kenyan sex workers using DMPA, or non-hormonal contraceptives, underwent spatial transcriptomics and gene set enrichment analyses. Integrated systemic estradiol levels and bulk tissue gene expression data from a larger cohort enhanced the study's scope. Unsupervised clustering unveiled four epithelial and seven submucosal layers, showcasing spatially restricted and diverse functional epithelial responses, and a less structured submucosal spatial ordering. DMPA associated with mucosal-wide immunoglobulin g

SUBMITTER: Kaldhusdal V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11704007 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature