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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Judith Bulmer, Barbara Innes, Dr Gendie Lash
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Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) affects 30% of women of reproductive age and significantly interferes with quality of life. Altered endometrial vascular maturation has been reported in HMB and recurrent miscarriage, the latter associated with increased uterine natural killer (uNK) cell numbers. This study compared endometrial leukocyte populations in controls and women with HMB. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded endometrial biopsies from controls (without endometrial pathology) and HMB were immunostained for CD14 (macrophages), CD56 (uNK cells), CD83 (dendritic cells), FOXP3 (regulatory T cells/Tregs), CD3 and CD8 (T cells). Leukocyte numbers were analysed as a percentage of total stromal cells in five randomly selected fields of view in the stratum functionalis of each sample. In control women across the menstrual cycle, 2-8% of total stromal cells were CD3(+) cells, 2-4% were CD8(+) T cells and 6-8% were CD14(+) macrophages. Compared with controls, CD3(+) cells were reduced during the mid-secretory phase (4%, P < 0.01) and increased in the late secretory phase (12%, P = 0.01) in HMB. CD83(+) dendritic cells and FOXP3(+) Tregs were scarce throughout the menstrual cycle in both groups. In controls, 2% of stromal cells in proliferative endometrium were CD56(+) uNK cells, increasing to 17% during the late secretory phase. In HMB, CD56+ uNK cells were increased in the proliferative (5%, P < 0.01) and early secretory (4%, P < 0.02) phases, but reduced (10%, P < 0.01) in the late secretory phase. This study demonstrates dysregulation of uNK cells in HMB, the functional consequence of which may have an impact on endometrial vascular development and/or endometrial preparation for menstruation. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Author(s): Shivhare SB, Bulmer JN, Innes BA, Hapangama DK, Lash GE
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Reproductive Immunology
Year: 2015
Volume: 112
Pages: 88-94
Print publication date: 01/11/2015
Online publication date: 11/09/2015
Acceptance date: 08/09/2015
ISSN (print): 0165-0378
ISSN (electronic): 1872-7603
Publisher: Elsevier
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2015.09.001
DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2015.09.001
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