Understanding endometriosis from an immunomicroenvironmental perspective / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Endometriosis, a heterogeneous, inflammatory, and estrogen-dependent gynecological disease defined by the presence and growth of endometrial tissues outside the lining of the uterus, affects approximately 5-10% of reproductive-age women, causing chronic pelvic pain and reduced fertility. Although the etiology of endometriosis is still elusive, emerging evidence supports the idea that immune dysregulation can promote the survival and growth of retrograde endometrial debris. Peritoneal macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells exhibit deficient cytotoxicity in the endometriotic microenvironment, leading to inefficient eradication of refluxed endometrial fragments. In addition, the imbalance of T-cell subtypes results in aberrant cytokine production and chronic inflammation, which contribute to endometriosis development. Although it remains uncertain whether immune dysregulation represents an initial cause or merely a secondary enhancer of endometriosis, therapies targeting altered immune pathways exhibit satisfactory effects in preventing disease onset and progression. Here, we summarize the phenotypic and functional alterations of immune cells in the endometriotic microenvironment, focusing on their interactions with microbiota and endocrine and nervous systems, and how these interactions contribute to the etiology and symptomology of endometriosis.

CHANGES OF CHOLINESTERASE, NOREPINEPHRINE IN NUC. SUPRAOPTICUS AND LOCUS COERULEUSOF RATS FOLLOWING ELECTRO-ACUPUNCTURE AND THEIR RELATION TO PAIN THRESHOLD / 解剖学报

The present study is designed to investigate the histochemical changes of cholinesterase, norepinephrine in nuc. Supraopticus and locus coeruleus of rats following electo-acupuncture and their possible relation to pain threshold. The preliminary results indicated that the elevation of pain threshold following electro-acupuncture concomittantly with increase in histochemical reaction of cholinesterase, and norepinephrine both in nuc. Supraopticus and locus coeruleus of electro-acupunctured rats. The increase in intensity was shown to be correlated with the elevation of pain threshold. The intensity of increased cholinesterase activity was more obvious in the animals with pain threshold elevated for above two folds than those elevated only one fold. On the other hand, the higher intensity of norepinephrine was obser ed in locus coeruleus with one fold of elevation of pain threshold. The significance of the changes in these two nuclei and their possibld function were briefly discussed.