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Calmon MS, Lemos FFB, Silva Luz M, Rocha Pinheiro SL, de Oliveira Silva LG, Correa Santos GL, Rocha GR, Freire de Melo F. Immune pathway through endometriosis to ovarian cancer. World J Clin Oncol 2024; 15:496-522. [PMID: 38689629 PMCID: PMC11056862 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i4.496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease, defined by the presence of functional endometrial tissue outside of the uterine cavity. This disease is one of the main gynecological diseases, affecting around 10%-15% women and girls of reproductive age, being a common gynecologic disorder. Although endometriosis is a benign disease, it shares several characteristics with invasive cancer. Studies support that it has been linked with an increased chance of developing endometrial ovarian cancer, representing an earlier stage of neoplastic processes. This is particularly true for women with clear cell carcinoma, low-grade serous carcinoma and endometrioid. However, the carcinogenic pathways between both pathologies remain poorly understood. Current studies suggest a connection between endometriosis and endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers (EAOCs) via pathways associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and hyperestrogenism. This article aims to review current data on the molecular events linked to the development of EAOCs from endometriosis, specifically focusing on the complex relationship between the immune response to endometriosis and cancer, including the molecular mechanisms and their ramifications. Examining recent developments in immunotherapy and their potential to boost the effectiveness of future treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Santos Calmon
- Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Fabian Fellipe Bueno Lemos
- Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Marcel Silva Luz
- Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Samuel Luca Rocha Pinheiro
- Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, Bahia, Brazil
| | | | - Gabriel Lima Correa Santos
- Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Reis Rocha
- Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Fabrício Freire de Melo
- Instituto Multidisciplinar em Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Vitória da Conquista 45029-094, Bahia, Brazil
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Marin MLC, Rached MR, Monteiro SM, Kalil J, Abrao MS, Coelho V. Soluble MICA in endometriosis pathophysiology: Impairs NK cell degranulation and effector functions. Am J Reprod Immunol 2024; 91:e13830. [PMID: 38454570 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Endometriosis exhibits several immune dysfunctions, including deficient natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity. MICA (MHC class I chain-related molecule A) is induced by biological stress and soluble MICA (sMICA) negatively modulates the expression of the activating receptor, NKG2D, reducing NK cells activities. We investigated the involvement of soluble MICA in NK cell-deficient activity in endometriosis. METHODS OF STUDY sMICA levels (serum and peritoneal fluid-PF) were evaluated by ELISA. Circulating NK cell subsets quantification and its NKG2D receptor expression, NK cell cytotoxicity and CD107a, IFN-γ and IL-10 expressions by NK cells stimulated with K562 cells were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS We found higher sMICA levels (serum and PF) in endometriosis, especially in advanced and deep endometriosis. Endometriosis presented lower percentages of CD56dim CD16+ cytotoxic cells and impaired NK cell responses upon stimulation, resulting in lower CD107a and IFN-γ expressions, and deficient NK cell cytotoxicity. NK cell stimulation in the MICA-blocked condition (mimicking the effect of sMICA) showed decreased cytotoxicity in initial endometriosis stages and the emergence of a negative correlation between CD107a expression and sMICA levels. CONCLUSIONS We suggest that soluble MICA is a potential player in endometriosis pathophysiology with involvement in disease progression and severity, contributing to NK cell impaired IFN-γ response and degranulation. NK cell compartment exhibits multiple perturbations, including quantitative deficiency and impaired cytotoxicity, contributing to inadequate elimination of ectopic endometrial tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lucia Carnevale Marin
- Laboratorio de Imunologia, Instituto do Coracao, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Laboratorio de Investigaçao Medica 19 (LIM-19), Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marici Rached Rached
- Laboratorio de Imunologia, Instituto do Coracao, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sandra Maria Monteiro
- Laboratorio de Imunologia, Instituto do Coracao, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Jorge Kalil
- Laboratorio de Imunologia, Instituto do Coracao, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Laboratorio de Investigaçao Medica 19 (LIM-19), Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Instituto de Investigacao em Imunologia, Instituto Nacional de Ciencia e Tecnologia (iii-INCT), Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Divisao de Imunologia Clinica e Alergia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Mauricio Simoes Abrao
- Divisao de Imunologia Clinica e Alergia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Disciplina de Ginecologia, Departamento de Obstetricia e Ginecologia, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Departamento de Ginecologia, BP - A Beneficencia Portuguesa de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Verônica Coelho
- Laboratorio de Imunologia, Instituto do Coracao, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Instituto de Investigacao em Imunologia, Instituto Nacional de Ciencia e Tecnologia (iii-INCT), Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Divisao de Imunologia Clinica e Alergia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Ko E, Yoon T, Lee Y, Kim J, Park YB. ADSC secretome constrains NK cell activity by attenuating IL-2-mediated JAK-STAT and AKT signaling pathway via upregulation of CIS and DUSP4. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:329. [PMID: 37964351 PMCID: PMC10648656 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03516-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have immunomodulatory properties and therapeutic effects on autoimmune diseases through their secreted factors, referred to as the secretome. However, the specific key factors of the MSC secretome and their mechanisms of action in immune cells have not been fully determined. Most in vitro experiments are being performed using immune cells, but experiments using natural killer (NK) cells have been neglected, and a few studies using NK cells have shown discrepancies in results. NK cells are crucial elements of the immune system, and adjustment of their activity is essential for controlling various pathological conditions. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of the adipose tissue-derived stem cell (ADSC) secretome on NK cell activity. METHODS To obtain the ADSC secretome, we cultured ADSCs in medium and concentrated the culture medium using tangential flow filtration (TFF) capsules. We assessed NK cell viability and proliferation using CCK-8 and CFSE assays, respectively. We analyzed the effects of the ADSC secretome on NK cell activity and pathway-related proteins using a combination of flow cytometry, ELISA, cytotoxicity assay, CD107a assay, western blotting, and quantitative real-time PCR. To identify the composition of the ADSC secretome, we performed LC-MS/MS profiling and bioinformatics analysis. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved, we used mRNA sequencing to profile the transcriptional expression of human blood NK cells. RESULTS The ADSC secretome was found to restrict IL-2-mediated effector function of NK cells while maintaining proliferative potency. This effect was achieved through the upregulation of the inhibitory receptor CD96, as well as downregulation of activating receptors and IL-2 receptor subunits IL-2Rα and IL-2Rγ. These changes were associated with attenuated JAK-STAT and AKT pathways in NK cells, which were achieved through the upregulation of cytokine-inducible SH2-containing protein (CIS, encoded by Cish) and dual specificity protein phosphatase 4 (DUSP4). Furthermore, proteomic analysis revealed twelve novel candidates associated with the immunomodulatory effects of MSCs. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal a detailed cellular outcome and regulatory mechanism of NK cell activity by the ADSC secretome and suggest a therapeutic tool for treating NK-mediated inflammatory and autoimmune diseases using the MSC secretome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunhee Ko
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Taejun Yoon
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoojin Lee
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongsun Kim
- Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Beom Park
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
- Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
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Surcel M, Neamtiu IA, Muresan D, Goidescu I, Staicu A, Marta MM, Nemeti G, Harsa R, Doroftei B, Capilna ME, Caracostea G. Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptor Genotypes and Reproductive Outcomes in a Group of Infertile Women: A Romanian Study. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3048. [PMID: 37835791 PMCID: PMC10572162 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13193048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A growing body of evidence suggests that endometrial immune disorders may be responsible for endometrial dysfunctions that can lead to gynecological and obstetrical pathology. The aim of this study was to explore the potential relationship between different killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genotypes and reproductive outcomes. We conducted a prospective cohort study that included 104 infertile patients undergoing an in vitro fertilization procedure. All participants underwent clinical and ultrasound examination, genetic evaluation (KIR genotyping), endometrial washing fluid sampling for cytokine determination, endometrial tissue sampling for histologic assessment and hysteroscopic evaluation. Our analysis showed statistically significant lower levels of uterine cytokines TNF-α (p = 0.001) and IL-1beta (p = 0.000) in the KIR AA genotype group as compared to KIR AB and BB among study participants with chronic endometritis. The study results suggest that the KIR AA genotype population subgroups may be more susceptible to developing endometrial disorders such as chronic endometritis. The changes in the behavior of NK cells seem to be subtle and expressed as an altered regulatory pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihai Surcel
- 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 3-5 Clinicilor Street, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.S.); (D.M.); (I.G.); (A.S.); (G.N.); (G.C.)
| | - Iulia Adina Neamtiu
- Health Department, Environmental Health Center, Part of ALS, 58 Busuiocului Street, 400240 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele Street, 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Daniel Muresan
- 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 3-5 Clinicilor Street, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.S.); (D.M.); (I.G.); (A.S.); (G.N.); (G.C.)
| | - Iulian Goidescu
- 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 3-5 Clinicilor Street, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.S.); (D.M.); (I.G.); (A.S.); (G.N.); (G.C.)
| | - Adelina Staicu
- 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 3-5 Clinicilor Street, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.S.); (D.M.); (I.G.); (A.S.); (G.N.); (G.C.)
| | - Monica Mihaela Marta
- Department of Medical Education, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 3-5 Clinicilor Street, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Georgiana Nemeti
- 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 3-5 Clinicilor Street, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.S.); (D.M.); (I.G.); (A.S.); (G.N.); (G.C.)
| | - Radu Harsa
- In Vitro fertilization Department, “Regina Maria” Hospital, 29 Dorobantilor Street, 400117 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Bogdan Doroftei
- Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Mihai Emil Capilna
- 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine, Pharmacy Science and Technology “George Emil Palade”, 38 Gheorghe Marinescu, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania;
| | - Gabriela Caracostea
- 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 3-5 Clinicilor Street, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.S.); (D.M.); (I.G.); (A.S.); (G.N.); (G.C.)
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Ekemen S, Comunoglu C, Kayhan CK, Bilir E, Cavusoglu I, Etiler N, Bilgi S, Ince U, Coban C, Erden HF. Endometrial Staining of CD56 (Uterine Natural Killer), BCL-6, and CD138 (Plasma Cells) Improve Diagnosis and Clinical Pregnancy Outcomes in Unexplained Infertility and Recurrent IVF Failures: Standardization of Diagnosis with Digital Pathology. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13091557. [PMID: 37174948 PMCID: PMC10177933 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13091557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In women with unexplained infertility (UI) and recurrent in vitro fertilization (IVF) failures, the etiology is often unclear. Endometrial immune perturbations and the use of immune markers associated with these dysregulations are of great interest in the diagnosis and treatment of UI. However, reliable biomarkers and standardized quantification methods are lacking. Here, to address endometrial immune dysregulation in UI patients with recurrent IVF failures, we performed endometrial tissue sampling and immunostaining of CD56 (uNK), CD138, and BCL-6. Of these cases, 57.9% had positive CD56 in the endometrial stroma, while 46.1% had positive BCL-6 in the glandular epithelium, and 14.5% of the cases were found to be positive for CD138. Combined staining rates were 60.5%, 68.4%, and 71.05% for (CD56 or BCL-6), (CD56 or CD138), and (CD56, BCL-6, or CD138), respectively. There was a significant correlation between CD56 and BCL-6 positivity, while CD138 positivity was an independent parameter. After the recommended targeted therapy, pregnancy rates were found to increase from 58.5% to 61.6% and 73.8% in CD56-positive, (CD56- or BCL-6-positive), and (CD56-, BCL-6-, or CD138-positive) cases, respectively. Notably, a retrospective evaluation of digital pathology and light microscopy results showed a significant correlation. This study suggests that the examination of CD56, BCL-6, and CD138 in the same endometrial sample may be an effective method in determining the etiology of UI and reaching an early diagnosis and treatment options. Moreover, digital pathology can be used in the evaluation of CD56 and BCL-6 to provide objective, rapid, and reliable results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suheyla Ekemen
- Vocational School of Health Services, Kerem Aydınlar Campus, Acıbadem University, Istanbul 34752, Turkey
- Acibadem Central Pathology Laboratory, Kerem Aydinlar Campus, Istanbul 34752, Turkey
| | - Cem Comunoglu
- Department of Pathology, Dr. Cemil Tascioglu City Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul 34668, Turkey
| | - Cavit Kerem Kayhan
- Acibadem Central Pathology Laboratory, Kerem Aydinlar Campus, Istanbul 34752, Turkey
| | - Ebru Bilir
- School of Medicine, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul 34349, Turkey
| | - Ilkay Cavusoglu
- Women's Health and Gynecological Nursing, Institute of Health Sciences, Biruni University, Istanbul 34010, Turkey
| | - Nilay Etiler
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Istanbul Okan University, Istanbul 34947, Turkey
- Public Health Department, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89509, USA
| | - Selcuk Bilgi
- Acibadem Central Pathology Laboratory, Kerem Aydinlar Campus, Istanbul 34752, Turkey
| | - Umit Ince
- Acibadem Central Pathology Laboratory, Kerem Aydinlar Campus, Istanbul 34752, Turkey
- Department of Digital Pathology, School of Medicine, Acıbadem University, Istanbul 34752, Turkey
| | - Cevayir Coban
- Division of Malaria Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science (IMSUT), University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Halit Firat Erden
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Infertility Clinic, Zorlu Center, Istanbul 34340, Turkey
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Zhang T, He Y, Man GCW, Ding Y, Wang CC, Chung JPW. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells: A new emerging player in endometriosis. International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology 2023. [PMID: 36967153 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2022.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Endometriosis is a common gynecological disorder defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. This is commonly associated with chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and dysmenorrhea, which occurs in approximately 10% of women of reproductive age. Although the exact mechanism remains uncertain, it has been widely accepted to be an estrogen-dependent and inflammatory disease. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous group of immune cells with immunosuppressive capacity and non-immunological functions. They have been found to be aggressively involved in the pathologies of various disorders. In regards to tumors, the functions of MDSCs have been profoundly shown to inhibit tumor immune response and to promote angiogenesis, tumor metastasis, fibrosis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In recent years, the elevation of MDSCs in endometriosis was reported by several studies that provoke the assumption that MDSCs might exert similar roles to promote the development of endometriosis. Such that, precision treatments targeting MDSCs might be a promising direction for future study. Herein, we will review the research progress of MDSCs in endometriosis and its potential relevance to the pathogenesis, progression, and therapeutics strategy of endometriosis.
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Reis JL, Rosa NN, Ângelo-Dias M, Martins C, Borrego LM, Lima J. Natural Killer Cell Receptors and Endometriosis: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010331. [PMID: 36613776 PMCID: PMC9820702 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disorder, characterized by the presence of endometrial cells outside the uterine cavity. An increasing number of studies correlate the immune system with endometriosis, particularly NK receptors (NKR), which have been suggested to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of the disease. This systematic review aims to enlighten the role of NKR in endometriosis. A literature search was performed independently by two reviewers, to identify studies assessing the role of NKR in endometriosis. In total, 18 studies were included. Endometriosis pathogenesis seems to be marked by the overexpression of NK inhibitor receptors (KIRS), namely, CD158a+, KIR2DL1, CD94/NKG2A, PD-1, NKB1, and EB6, and inhibiting ligands such as PD-L1, HLA-E, HLA-G, and HLA-I. Concurrently, there is a decrease in NK-activating receptors and natural cytotoxicity receptors (NCRs), such as NKp46, NKp30, and NKG2D. The immune shift from NK surveillance to NK suppression is also apparent in the greater relative number of ITIM domains compared with ITAM domains in NKRs. In conclusion, NK receptor activity seems to dictate the immunocompetency of women to clear endometriotic cells from the peritoneal cavity. Future research could explore NKRs as therapeutic targets, such as that which is now well established in cancer therapy through immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Lourenço Reis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LUZ SAÚDE, Hospital da Luz, 1500-650 Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Miguel Ângelo-Dias
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (NMS|FCM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
- Immunology Department, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (NMS|FCM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Catarina Martins
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (NMS|FCM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
- Immunology Department, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (NMS|FCM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Luís Miguel Borrego
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (NMS|FCM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
- Immunology Department, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (NMS|FCM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
- Department of Imunoallergy, LUZ SAÚDE, Hospital da Luz, 1500-650 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jorge Lima
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LUZ SAÚDE, Hospital da Luz, 1500-650 Lisboa, Portugal
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (NMS|FCM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
- Immunology Department, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (NMS|FCM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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Sahota JS, Sharma B, Guleria K, Sambyal V. Candidate genes for infertility: an in-silico study based on cytogenetic analysis. BMC Med Genomics 2022; 15:170. [PMID: 35918717 PMCID: PMC9347124 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-022-01320-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The cause of infertility remains unclear in a significant proportion of reproductive-age couples who fail to conceive naturally. Chromosomal aberrations have been identified as one of the main genetic causes of male and female infertility. Structural chromosomal aberrations may disrupt the functioning of various genes, some of which may be important for fertility. The present study aims to identify candidate genes and putative functional interaction networks involved in male and female infertility using cytogenetic data from cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes of infertile patients. Methods Karyotypic analyses was done in 201 infertile patients (100 males and 101 females) and 201 age and gender matched healthy controls (100 males and 101 females) after 72 h peripheral lymphocyte culturing and GTG banding, followed by bioinformatic analysis using Cytoscape v3.8.2 and Metascape. Results Several chromosomal regions with a significantly higher frequency of structural aberrations were identified in the infertile males (5q2, 10q2, and 17q2) and females (6q2, 16q2, and Xq2). Segregation of the patients based on type of infertility (primary v/s secondary infertility) led to the identification of chromosomal regions with a significantly higher frequency of structural aberrations exclusively within the infertile males (5q2, 17q2) and females (16q2) with primary infertility. Cytoscape identified two networks specific to these regions: a male specific network with 99 genes and a female specific network with 109 genes. The top enriched GO terms within the male and female infertility networks were “skeletal system morphogenesis” and “mRNA transport” respectively. PSME3, PSMD3, and CDC27 were the top 3 hub genes identified within the male infertility network. Similarly, UPF3B, IRF8, and PSMB1 were the top 3 hub genes identified with the female infertility network. Among the hub genes identified in the male- and female-specific networks, PSMB1, PSMD3, and PSME3 are functional components of the proteasome complex. These hub genes have a limited number of reports related to their respective roles in maintenance of fertility in mice model and humans and require validation in further studies. Conclusion The candidate genes predicted in the present study can serve as targets for future research on infertility. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12920-022-01320-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jatinder Singh Sahota
- Department of Human Genetics, Cytogenetics Laboratory, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Bhavna Sharma
- Department of Human Genetics, Cytogenetics Laboratory, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Kamlesh Guleria
- Department of Human Genetics, Cytogenetics Laboratory, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
| | - Vasudha Sambyal
- Department of Human Genetics, Cytogenetics Laboratory, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India.
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Xie M, Li Y, Meng YZ, Xu P, Yang YG, Dong S, He J, Hu Z. Uterine Natural Killer Cells: A Rising Star in Human Pregnancy Regulation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:918550. [PMID: 35720413 PMCID: PMC9198966 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.918550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Uterine natural killer (uNK) cells are an immune subset located in the uterus. uNK cells have distinct tissue-specific characteristics compared to their counterparts in peripheral blood and lymphoid organs. Based on their location and the pregnancy status of the host, uNK cells are classified as endometrial NK (eNK) cells or decidua NK (dNK) cells. uNK cells are important in protecting the host from pathogen invasion and contribute to a series of physiological processes that affect successful pregnancy, including uterine spiral artery remodeling, fetal development, and immunity tolerance. Abnormal alterations in uNK cell numbers and/or impaired function may cause pregnancy complications, such as recurrent miscarriage, preeclampsia, or even infertility. In this review, we introduce recent advances in human uNK cell research under normal physiological or pathological conditions, and summarize their unique influences on the process of pregnancy complications or uterine diseases. Finally, we propose the potential clinical use of uNK cells as a novel cellular immunotherapeutic approach for reproductive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Xie
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of Ministry of Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yan Li
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of Ministry of Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yi-Zi Meng
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of Ministry of Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Peng Xu
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of Ministry of Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yong-Guang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of Ministry of Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Shuai Dong
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of Ministry of Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jin He
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of Ministry of Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zheng Hu
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration & Transplantation of Ministry of Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Abomaray F, Wagner AK, Chrobok M, Ekblad-Nordberg Å, Gidlöf S, Alici E, Götherström C. The Effect of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Derived From Endometriotic Lesions on Natural Killer Cell Function. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:612714. [PMID: 34988070 PMCID: PMC8722454 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.612714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease that presents with ectopic endometriotic lesions. Reduced immunosurveillance of these lesions has been proposed to be playing a role in the pathology of endometriosis. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are found in ectopic lesions and may decrease immunosurveillance. In the present study, we examined if MSC contribute to reduced immunosurveillance through their immunosuppressive effects on natural killer (NK) cells. Stromal cells from endometriotic ovarian cysts (ESCcyst) and eutopic endometrium (ESCendo) of women with endometriosis and their conditioned medium were used in co-cultures with allogeneic peripheral blood NK cells. Following culture, NK cells were examined phenotypically for their expression of activating, inhibitory, maturation, and adhesion receptors and co-receptors, as well as the degranulation (CD107a) marker and the immunostimulatory (interferon-γ) and immunosuppressive (transforming growth factor beta 1 and interleukin-10) cytokines. Moreover, NK cell cytotoxicity was examined using chromium 51 release killing assays. There were no differences between ESCcyst and ESCendo regarding their effects on NK cell cytotoxicity in both conditioned medium and direct co-culture experiments. Additionally, there were no differences between ESCcyst and ESCendo regarding their impact on NK cells’ phenotype and degranulation in both conditioned medium and direct co-culture experiments. Although there were no differences found for DNAX accessory molecule-1 (DNAM-1) and NKp44, we found that the expression of the NK cell ligand CD155 that binds DNAM-1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) that binds NKp44 was significantly less on ESCcyst than on ESCendo. These findings were not supported by the results that the expression of the known and unknown ligands on ESCcyst for DNAM-1 and NKp44 using chimeric proteins was not significantly different compared to ESCendo. In conclusion, the results suggest that ectopic MSC may not contribute to reduced immunosurveillance in endometriosis through their inhibitory effects on NK cells. This suggests that NK cell inhibition in the pelvic cavity of women with endometriosis develops due to other factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fawaz Abomaray
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Fawaz Abomaray, ,
| | - Arnika Kathleen Wagner
- Centre for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Michael Chrobok
- Centre for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Åsa Ekblad-Nordberg
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Gidlöf
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stockholm South General Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Evren Alici
- Centre for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Götherström
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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11
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Garmendia JV, De Sanctis JB. A Brief Analysis of Tissue-Resident NK Cells in Pregnancy and Endometrial Diseases: The Importance of Pharmacologic Modulation. Immuno 2021; 1:174-93. [DOI: 10.3390/immuno1030011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
NK cells are lymphocytes involved in the innate and adaptative immune response. These cells are located in peripheral blood and tissues with ample functions, from immune vigilant to tolerogenic reactions. In the endometrium, NK cell populations vary depending on age, hormones, and inflammation. When pregnancy occurs, tissue-resident NK cells and conventional NK cells are recruited to protect the fetus, a tolerogenic response. On the contrary, in the inflamed endometrium, various inflammatory cells down-regulate NK tolerance and impair embryo implantation. Therefore, NK cells’ pharmacological modulation is difficult to achieve. Several strategies have been used, from progesterone, lipid emulsions to steroids; the success has not been as expected. However, new therapeutic approaches have been proposed to decrease the endometrial inflammatory burden and increase pregnancy success based on understanding NK cell physiology.
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12
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Siemaszko J, Marzec-Przyszlak A, Bogunia-Kubik K. NKG2D Natural Killer Cell Receptor-A Short Description and Potential Clinical Applications. Cells 2021; 10:1420. [PMID: 34200375 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells are natural cytotoxic, effector cells of the innate immune system. They can recognize transformed or infected cells. NK cells are armed with a set of activating and inhibitory receptors which are able to bind to their ligands on target cells. The right balance between expression and activation of those receptors is fundamental for the proper functionality of NK cells. One of the best known activating receptors is NKG2D, a member of the CD94/NKG2 family. Due to a specific NKG2D binding with its eight different ligands, which are overexpressed in transformed, infected and stressed cells, NK cells are able to recognize and attack their targets. The NKG2D receptor has an enormous significance in various, autoimmune diseases, viral and bacterial infections as well as for transplantation outcomes and complications. This review focuses on the NKG2D receptor, the mechanism of its action, clinical relevance of its gene polymorphisms and a potential application in various clinical settings.
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Liu ZQ, Lu MY, Liu B. Circulating CD56+ NKG2D+ NK cells and postoperative fertility in ovarian endometrioma. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18598. [PMID: 33122818 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75570-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The current biomarkers for postoperative fertility assessment caused by ovarian endometrioma (OE) are insufficient. The present study hypothesized that the peripheral lymphocyte subpopulation can be used as a candidate biomarker of postoperative infertility in OE. The association of the number of circulating CD4/CD8 T, NK, and γδ T cells with postoperative fertility was assessed in 33 OE patients aged 20 ~ 40 years between June 2018 and January 2019. Concomitantly, 68 healthy female subjects were recruited. The changes in the baseline immune characteristics between the two groups were compared. The data demonstrated significant differences in the ratio of CD4/CD8 T cells and the number of CD56+ NKG2D+ NK cells and γδ T cells between OE patients and control subjects. The patients were followed-up till December 2019 and the number of CD56+ NKG2D+ NK cells in the cases was a significant predictor for postoperative fertility as determined by different COX regression models (crude HR = 0.220, 95% CI = 0.059–0.822; adjusted HR = 0.127, 95% CI = 0.024–0.675). A significant delay to successful pregnancy was noted in OE patients (median time, 173 vs. 99 days, log-rank P = 0.013). The present findings suggested that CD56+ NKG2D+ NK cells are a candidate biomarker of postoperative fertility in OE patients. Larger population studies are warranted.
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Fukui A, Mai C, Saeki S, Yamamoto M, Takeyama R, Kato T, Ukita Y, Wakimoto Y, Yamaya A, Shibahara H. Pelvic endometriosis and natural killer cell immunity. Am J Reprod Immunol 2020; 85:e13342. [DOI: 10.1111/aji.13342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Fukui
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hyogo College of Medicine Hyogo Japan
| | - Chuxian Mai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hyogo College of Medicine Hyogo Japan
| | - Shinichiro Saeki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hyogo College of Medicine Hyogo Japan
| | - Mayu Yamamoto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hyogo College of Medicine Hyogo Japan
| | - Ryu Takeyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hyogo College of Medicine Hyogo Japan
| | - Toru Kato
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hyogo College of Medicine Hyogo Japan
| | - Yuji Ukita
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hyogo College of Medicine Hyogo Japan
| | - Yu Wakimoto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hyogo College of Medicine Hyogo Japan
| | - Ayano Yamaya
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hyogo College of Medicine Hyogo Japan
| | - Hiroaki Shibahara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hyogo College of Medicine Hyogo Japan
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