MMP9 and inflammatory response: Since BV is accompanied by mild genital inflammation, remodeling of the extracellular matrix, and cell lysis46,50, we examined the secretion of cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1RA, IL-6, and TNF-α), chemokines (fractalkine, IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1, MCP-3, MIP-1β, and RANTES), growth factors (PDGF-AA, TGF-α, and VEGF), apoptosis-related proteins (MIF, TRAIL, sFasL), mucins (CEA and CA125) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-7, MMP-9, MMP-10) in the 3-D cervical epithelial cell models infected with V. atypica, V. montpellierensis or M. micronuciformis at MOI 20–40 for 24 h.