Expression of the T regulatory cell transcription factor FoxP3 in peri-implantation phase endometrium in infertile women with endometriosis

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology

Xiaoping Wan¹  Yan Liang¹  Wen Lu¹  Changxiao Huang¹  Jian Zhang¹  Shufang Chen¹ 

[1] Department of Gynecology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China

关键词: T regulatory cells;    Infertility;    FoxP3;    Endometriosis;   

Others  :  1150752
DOI  :  10.1186/1477-7827-10-34

 received in 2012-02-11, accepted in 2012-04-27,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

Endometriosis (EM) is highly associated with infertility. The precise mechanism underlying EM-associated infertility remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the pathogenesis of infertility in women with EM by comparing FoxP3+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) expression in the eutopic endometrium of infertile women with EM and endometrium from healthy fertile women.

Methods

As a marker of Tregs, FoxP3 expression was analyzed in eutopic endometrium during the peri-implantation phase in infertile women with mild EM (n = 7), advanced EM (n = 20), and normally fertile women without EM (n = 20). FoxP3 mRNA expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. FoxP3 protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry.

Results

FoxP3 mRNA expression in all infertile patients with EM was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.05) by non-parametric Mann–Whitney U-test. Further analysis based on the extent of EM revealed that FoxP3 mRNA expression in infertile patients with advanced EM was significantly higher than the mild EM group and the control group (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry analysis showed predominant positive staining for FoxP3 protein in the endometrial stroma. In addition, the number of FoxP3+ cells in the eutopic endometrium of infertile women with advanced EM was marginally higher than the mild EM group and the control group, although the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05) by two-tailed t-tests.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that FoxP3+ Tregs in the peri-implantation endometrium might participate in the pathogenesis of advanced EM. However, they are not directly involved in the pathogenesis of advanced EM associated with infertility. The differential expression of FoxP3 in infertile women with mild EM and advanced EM implicates that notable differences in the uterine immune status are likely involved in the pathogenesis of mild EM associated with infertility in the peri-implantation endometrium.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Chen et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

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