CLTA-4 Expression is Associated with the Maintenance of Chronic Inflammation in Endometriosis and Infertility.

Monika Abramiuk,Jan Kotarski,Dominika Bębnowska,Paulina Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej,Grzegorz Polak,Rafał Hrynkiewicz,Ewelina Grywalska,Jacek Roliński

doi:10.3390/cells10030487

Monika Abramiuk, Jan Kotarski + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10030487

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Journal: Cells	Publication Date: Feb 25, 2021
Citations: 11	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Medical University of Lublin, University of Szczecin

Abstract

Altered immune mechanisms are implicated in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. CTLA-4 is a membrane receptor that favors the anergic state of lymphocytes, which may disrupt the immune system response in the endometriotic environment. In this study, we examined the expression of CTLA-4 on T and B cells by flow cytometry and its levels in blood serum and peritoneal fluid by ELISA. Levels of CTLA-4+ T cells were significantly higher in patients with more advanced endometriosis than in those with less advanced disease. Additionally, the negative correlation of CTLA-4+ T lymphocytes and the percentage of NK and NKT-like cells in women with endometriosis and infertility may indicate a different etiopathogenesis of endometriosis accompanying infertility. Our findings shed light on the potential of CTLA-4 in developing new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in endometriosis management.

Highlights

The study group consisted of 54 women with newly diagnosed endometriosis confirmed by histopathological examination
Our study showed significant differences in plasma CTLA-4 concentration between patients with endometriosis and the control group, but no relationship between endometriosis stage and levels of CTLA-4 both in the peripheral blood and in the peritoneal fluid was observed
Significant changes in the percentage of T lymphocytes expressing CTLA-4 antigen in the peripheral blood of women with endometriosis indicate a significant role of negative costimulation in the development of the disease and the persistence of chronic inflammation

Summary

Introduction

Endometriosis belongs to the group of gynecological diseases with a mild course. It is a chronic disease, often recurrent, consisting of the pathological presence of endometrial tissue outside its proper place of occurrence, that is, the uterine cavity. Incidence rates vary considerably depending on the population: from 5 to 50% of women treated for infertility to 5 to 21% of women with pelvic pain syndrome [2,4,5,6,7].

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