Tao Gui1, Chen Chen1, Zhenzhen Zhang1, Weiwei Tang1, Ruyun Qian1, Xiaoping Ma1, Peng Cao2, Guiping Wan3. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, Affiliated with Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Branch of China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Nanjing, People's Republic of China. 2. Jiangsu Branch of China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: pcao79@yahoo.com. 3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, Affiliated with Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Branch of China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Nanjing, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: wanguiping@263.net.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the balance between regulatory T cells (Treg) and T-helper 17 cells (T(H)17) in peripheral blood and uteri of women with adenomyosis (AM), and to evaluate their potential correlation with dysmenorrhea and CA-125 levels. DESIGN: Laboratory study using human peripheral blood and tissues. SETTING: Academic hospital. PATIENT(S): Forty-five patients with AM (study group) and 25 women without AM (control group). INTERVENTION(S): The peripheral blood and tissues harvested from all groups were subjected to flow cytometry, ELISA, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry. The severity of dysmenorrhea was distinguished by visual analog scale (VAS). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): T(H)17 and Treg cell frequency, mRNA and protein levels of transcription factors and cytokines in all groups, and their correlation between the T(H)17-Treg ratio and dysmenorrhea severity or CA-125 level. RESULT(S): The disturbance of T(H)17-Treg balance was demonstrated in peripheral circulation and uteri of patients with both diffuse and focal AM, and it correlated positively with dysmenorrhea severity and CA-125. CONCLUSION(S): The findings suggest that T(H)17-Treg imbalance may play a crucial role in the immunopathogenesis of AM, and may be thus a potential target of AM therapy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR-CCC-13003500.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the balance between regulatory T cells (Treg) and T-helper 17 cells (T(H)17) in peripheral blood and uteri of women with adenomyosis (AM), and to evaluate their potential correlation with dysmenorrhea and CA-125 levels. DESIGN: Laboratory study using human peripheral blood and tissues. SETTING: Academic hospital. PATIENT(S): Forty-five patients with AM (study group) and 25 women without AM (control group). INTERVENTION(S): The peripheral blood and tissues harvested from all groups were subjected to flow cytometry, ELISA, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry. The severity of dysmenorrhea was distinguished by visual analog scale (VAS). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): T(H)17 and Treg cell frequency, mRNA and protein levels of transcription factors and cytokines in all groups, and their correlation between the T(H)17-Treg ratio and dysmenorrhea severity or CA-125 level. RESULT(S): The disturbance of T(H)17-Treg balance was demonstrated in peripheral circulation and uteri of patients with both diffuse and focal AM, and it correlated positively with dysmenorrhea severity and CA-125. CONCLUSION(S): The findings suggest that T(H)17-Treg imbalance may play a crucial role in the immunopathogenesis of AM, and may be thus a potential target of AM therapy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR-CCC-13003500.