Immunoendocrine abnormalities in the female reproductive system, and lung steroidogenesis during experimental pulmonary tuberculosis

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis mainly affects the lungs, but can spread to other organs. TB chronically activates the immune and endocrine systems producing remarkable functional changes.So far, it is unknown whether pulmonary non-disseminated TB cause changes in the female reproductive system and lung endocrinology.

Objective: To investigate whether pulmonary TB produces immunoendocrine alterations of the female mice reproductive organs, and lung estradiol synthesis.

Methods: BALB/c mice were infected intratracheally with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strain H37Rv. Groups of six non-infected and infected animals were euthanized on different days. Bacillary loads were determined in the lungs, ovaries and uterus. Immunohistochemistry and morphometry studies were performed in histological sections. Serum estradiol wasassayed, and supernatantfrom cultured lung cells was analyzed by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC).

Results: Mtb only grew in lung tissue. Histopathology revealed abnormal folliculogenesis and decreased corpora lutea. Altered ovarian expression of IL-6, IL-1β was found. The infection increased serum estradiol. Estradiol synthesis by infected lung cells triplicate after 30 pi days.Aromatase immunostaining was found in the alveolar and bronchial epithelium, being stronger in the infected lungs, mainly in macrophages.

Conclusion: Pulmonary TB affects the histophysiology of the female reproductive system in absence of its local infection, and disturbslung endocrinology.

Keywords: Aromatase; Estradiol synthesis; Non-disseminated pulmonary TB; Ovary; Pulmonary tuberculosis; Uterus.