17β-Estradiol induces proliferation of endometrial NK cells (CD56+) in postmenopausal women

Immune system cells modulation in patients with reproductive issues: A systematic review approach

The aim of this study was to carry out a systematic literature review to investigate the main immune cells responsible for implantation failures. We selected papers from PubMed, Embase and Virtual Health Library databases. Eligible articles included publications between January 1, 2010 and April 24, 2022. Inclusion criteria were: observational and case-control studies; and the exclusion criteria were: review papers, letters to the editor, abstracts, animal studies and case reports. We extracted the following information: day of collection, number of patients, control group, age of patients, type of sample used, immune cells and cytokines. As main findings in our mapping, we found that in peripheral blood, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD16+, CD56+, CD57+, CD69+, CD154+, CD158a+, NKp46 cells were increased and the CD4+, CD45+, Foxp3 and NKp46 markers were reduced. From the endometrial biopsies, there was an increase in CD3+, CD4+, CD5+, CD8+, CD16+, CD25+, CD45+, CD56+, CD57+, CD68+, CD127+ and a reduction in CD45+, CD56+, NKp46 and FoxP3 cells. Cytokines found increased in peripheral blood included IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, INF-γ, TGF-ß, TNF-α; while IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-35, FoxP3, TGF-ß, SOCS3 were reduced. As for the biopsies, there was an increase in IL-2, IL-6, IL-17, IL-22, IL-23, INF-A1, INF-B1, INF-γ, TNF-R and a reduction in IL-6, IL-10, INF-γ, TGFß, TNF-α. We concluded that immune cells can be modulated during pregnancy failure, but further studies are needed to elucidate the modulating effect of the immune system on the endometrium of these patients.

Sex/gender-related differences in inflammaging

Geroscience puts mechanisms of aging as a driver of the most common age-related diseases and dysfunctions. Under this perspective, addressing the basic mechanisms of aging will produce a better understanding than addressing each disease pathophysiology individually. Worldwide, despite greater functional impairment, life expectancy is higher in women than in men. Gender differences in the prevalence of multimorbidity lead mandatory to the understanding of the mechanisms underlying gender-related differences in multimorbidity patterns and disability-free life expectancy. Extensive literature suggested that inflammaging is at the crossroad of aging and age-related diseases. In this review, we highlight the main evidence on sex/gender differences in the mechanisms that foster inflammaging, i.e. the age-dependent triggering of innate immunity, modifications of adaptive immunity, and accrual of senescent cells, underpinning some biomarkers of inflammaging that show sex-related differences. In the framework of the "gender medicine perspective", we will also discuss how sex/gender differences in inflammaging can affect sex differences in COVID-19 severe outcomes.

Estrogen Protects Vasomotor Functions in Rats During Catecholamine Stress

The incidence of dysfunctional vasomotor diseases has mostly occurred in postmenopausal women but not in premenopausal women. Hence, this study sought to investigate the impact of estrogen deficiency during catecholamine stress on vasomotor function. Also, attempts were made to utilize estrogen replacement therapy to mitigate the adverse effects (pathological remodeling) of stress on the aortic vessels to preserve vasomotor functions. To do this, female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were ovariectomized (OVX) along with sham operations (Sham). Day 14 after OVX operation, 17-estradiol (E₂) was subcutaneously implanted (OVX+E₂). Day 35 after operation, stress was induced by isoproterenol (ISO) subcutaneous injections. Clinically relevant blood pressure indexes (systolic, diastolic, and mean atrial blood pressures) were assessed in the rats. Aortic vascular ring tensions were assessed in vitro to ascertain the impact of E₂ on their vasomotor function. Aortic vascular rings (AVRs) from OVX+ISO exhibited a significant increase in contractility in response to phenylephrine than AVRs isolated from Sham+ISO rats. Also, sera levels of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) and the expression of p-eNOS/eNOS from vascular tissues were ascertained. We demonstrate that, during stress, E₂ prevented excessive weight gain and OVX rats had higher blood pressures than those in the Sham group. Further, we showed that E₂ decreases ET-1 expressions during stress while upregulating NO expressions via enhancing eNOS activities to facilitate vasomotor functions. Finally, histological assessment revealed the E₂ treatments during stress preserved vasomotor functions by preventing excessive intima-media thickening and collagen depositions in the aortic vascular walls.

The impact of aging on innate and adaptive immunity in the human female genital tract

Mucosal tissues in the human female reproductive tract (FRT) are primary sites for both gynecological cancers and infections by a spectrum of sexually transmitted pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), that compromise women's health. While the regulation of innate and adaptive immune protection in the FRT by hormonal cyclic changes across the menstrual cycle and pregnancy are being intensely studied, little to nothing is known about the alterations in mucosal immune protection that occur throughout the FRT as women age following menopause. The immune system in the FRT has two key functions: defense against pathogens and reproduction. After menopause, natural reproductive function ends, and therefore, two overlapping processes contribute to alterations in immune protection in aging women: menopause and immunosenescence. The goal of this review is to summarize the multiple immune changes that occur in the FRT with aging, including the impact on the function of epithelial cells, immune cells, and stromal fibroblasts. These studies indicate that major aspects of innate and adaptive immunity in the FRT are compromised in a site‐specific manner in the FRT as women age. Further, at some FRT sites, immunological compensation occurs. Overall, alterations in mucosal immune protection contribute to the increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STI), urogenital infections, and gynecological cancers. Further studies are essential to provide a foundation for the development of novel therapeutic interventions to restore immune protection and reverse conditions that threaten women's lives as they age.