Simultaneous Detection and Evaluation of Four Subsets of CD4+ T Lymphocyte in Lesions and Peripheral Blood in Endometriosis

Abstract

Problem: The proportion of CD4+ T lymphocytes, Th1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory T cells in endometriosis lesions and peripheral blood are not known.

Method of study: Lymphocytes were isolated from endometriosis lesions (n = 10) and endometrium (n = 10). Lymphocytes in peripheral blood were isolated from patients with and without endometriosis (n = 10, 10). The CD4+ T-lymphocyte profile was analyzed by flow cytometry.

Results: The proportion of Th1 lymphocytes was significantly lower in endometriosis tissue (59.64 ± 9.2%) in comparison with endometrial tissue (79.07 ± 8.97%), whereas the Th17 lymphocyte fraction was significantly higher in endometriosis tissue (6.66 ± 2.53%) in comparison with endometrial tissue (2.27 ± 1.51%). Analysis of peripheral blood indicated that the Th1 proportion was significantly higher in women with endometriosis (10.25 ± 2.82%) in comparison with controls (6.96 ± 4.13%).

Conclusion: The CD4+ T-lymphocyte profile in lesions and peripheral blood is altered in women with endometriosis. These findings may help better understanding of T-lymphocyte involvement in the pathophysiology of endometriosis.

Keywords: Endometrium; Th1; Th17; Th2; proportion; regulatory T cells.