Evaluation of regulatory T cells, uterine NK and myeloid-derived suppressor cells in women with deep endometriosis

• Grant number: 12/17795-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): May 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal researcher: Luiz Vicente Rizzo
• Grantee: Carina Calixto Jank
• Home Institution: Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein (IIEPAE). Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Albert Einstein (SBIBAE). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 10/10338-0 - Endometriosis: molecular bases of immune response, AP.TEM

Abstract

Endometriosis is a chronic disease that affects women in reproductive age, characterized by the implementation and growth of endometrial tissue out of the uterine cavity. Although retrograde menstruation, the most explored theory used to explain endometriosis, is rather frequent, only 10% of the women develop the disease, indicating that its pathogenesis is multifactorial.The hypothesis that the immunoregulatory microenvironment contributes to the progression of endometriosis is supported by the observation of higher frequencies of regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis in comparison with healthy individuals. Uterine NK cells (uNK)and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) can also modulate the immune response. Alterations in the frequencies of these populations in the peritoneum could justify the reduction in the capacity of the immune system to react against endometrial cells, therefore allowing their implantation in ectopic sites. Thus, the purpose of this project is to characterize and quantify Treg [CD3+CD4+CD25highCD127lowLAP+FoxP3+], uNK [CD3-CD16-CD56high]and MDSC [HLA-DR-Lin1-CD45+CD33+CD34+CD11b+]in the peritoneal fluid and peripheral blood of women with endometriosis, in order to associate these populations to the development of the disease. The cytokine levels in the peritoneal fluid and the possible correlation between these cell types and the serum dosage of progesterone and estradiol will also be evaluated.