Abnormal pattern of lymphocyte subpopulations in the endometrium of infertile women with chronic endometritis.
OBJECTIVE
Endometrial lymphocytes play a critical role in endometrial receptivity. This study aimed at evaluating the variations induced by chronic endometritis (CE) on endometrial lymphocyte subsets. We compared the results in infertile women diagnosed with CE with those in unexplained infertile women without any sign of CE.


METHODS
Twenty-three women referring for unexplained infertility had hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy in the follicular phase; in nine women, CE was diagnosed (group CE+), while in 14 it was not (group CE-). All patients in the late secretory phase of the subsequent cycle underwent endometrial biopsy. By flow cytometry, the percentage and phenotype of the endometrial lymphocyte subpopulations were analyzed.


RESULTS
The secretory endometrium of patients with CE displayed significantly lower percentage of CD56(+) CD16(-) and of CD56(bright) CD16(-) cells (47.8% +/- 18.6 and 30.1% +/- 20.5 versus 79.5% +/- 3.9 and 67.3% +/- 8.1, respectively; P < 0.01) as compared with group CE(-), while the percentage of CD3(+) cells was significantly higher (25% +/- 12.2 versus 10.5 +/- 5; P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Infertile women with CE showed an abnormal percentage of endometrial lymphocyte subsets compared with unexplained infertile women suggesting that different mechanisms underlie the adverse pregnancy outcome of the two groups of patients.
Matteo
Maria
M
Department of Surgical Sciences, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Foggia, viale Pinto, Foggia, Italy. matteo.maria@libero.it
Cicinelli
Ettore
E
Greco
Pantaleo
P
Massenzio
Francesca
F
Baldini
Domenico
D
Falagario
Teresa
T
Rosenberg
Piergiorgio
P
Castellana
Laura
L
Specchia
Giorgina
G
Liso
Arcangelo
A