ABSTRACT
Endometriosis's pathophysiology remains incompletely understood, with evidence pointing towards a dysregulated immune response. Regulatory T (Treg) cells, pivotal in maintaining self-tolerance, may facilitate the survival of ectopic endometrial cells within the abdominal cavity, thereby contributing to endometriosis development. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of CD39+CD73+ suppressor Treg cell subsets in the peripheral blood of endometriosis patients. This research focuses on the pivotal role of regulatory T-cells (Tregs), which are essential for maintaining immune tolerance and preventing autoimmune diseases. A case-control study was conducted, including 32 women diagnosed with endometriosis and 22 control subjects. The frequency of peripheral blood CD39+CD73+ suppressor Treg cells was quantified using flow cytometry. No significant differences were observed in the frequency of CD3+CD4+CD25High cells (Median [M]: 10.1; Interquartile Range [IQR]: 6.32â18.3 vs. M: 9.72; IQR: 6.22-19.8) or CD3+CD4+CD25HighCD39+Foxp3+ cells (M: 31.1; IQR: 19.7-44.0 vs. M: 30.55; IQR: 18.5-45.5) between controls and patients. However, a significantly lower frequency of CD3+CD4+CD25HighCD39+CD73+ cells was observed in the endometriosis group compared to controls (M: 1.98; IQR: 0.0377-3.17 vs. M: 2.25; IQR: 0.50-4.08; p = 0.0483), suggesting a reduction in systemic immune tolerance among these patients. This finding highlights the potential role of CD39 and CD73 expression on Treg cells as biomarkers for assessing disease severity and progression. Furthermore, elucidating the mechanisms driving these alterations may unveil new therapeutic strategies to restore immune equilibrium and mitigate endometriosis symptoms.
Subject(s)
Apyrase , Endometriosis , Flow Cytometry , Forkhead Transcription Factors , T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory , Humans , Female , Endometriosis/immunology , Endometriosis/blood , T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Forkhead Transcription Factors/blood , Forkhead Transcription Factors/analysis , Apyrase/analysis , 5'-Nucleotidase/blood , Young Adult , Antigens, CD/blood , Antigens, CD/analysis , Statistics, Nonparametric , Reference ValuesABSTRACT
Corpos riziformes são estruturas que podem ser encontradas no líquido sinovial ou aderidas à sinóvia, que se assemelham macroscopicamente a grãos de arroz. São frequentes em pacientes com artrite reumatoide e decorrem de resposta inflamatória crônica. São encontrados em 25% dos procedimentos de aspiração ou cirurgias das articulações. Porém, ainda não existem publicações relatando sua presença no subcutâneo. Relatamos, pela primeira vez, a ocorrência de corpos riziformes no subcutâneo da região palmar em paciente com artrite reumatoide, confirmados por exames ultrassonográfico e anatomopatológico, tratados com sucesso com drenagem cirúrgica, sem recidivas após dois anos de seguimento
Riziform bodies are structures in the synovial fluid or attached to the synovium, which macroscopically resemble rice grains. They are common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and result from a chronic inflammation. They are found in 25% of aspiration procedures or joint surgery. However, there are still no publications reporting its presence in the subcutaneous tissue. We report for the first time the occurrence of riziform bodies in the subcutaneous plane of the palmar region in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, confirmed by sonographic and anatomopathological examination, successfully treated with surgical drainage, without recurrences after two years of follow-up.
