title: CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FOXP3⁺ regulatory T cells in peripheral blood and peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Is endometriosis associated with changes in CD4⁺ CD25⁺ FOXP3⁺ regulatory T cells (Treg cells)?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endometriosis is associated with disturbed compartmentalization of CD25(high) FOXP3⁺ Treg cells.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Endometriosis is associated with an abrogated immune response and displays some features of an autoimmune disorder. Treg cells play a part in the development of autoimmune reactions; however, their role in pathogenesis of endometriosis is still poorly recognized.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study comparing 17 women with laparoscopically and histopathologically confirmed ovarian endometriosis with 15 control women without visible endometriosis foci, pelvic inflammation or related pathology who were subjected to laparoscopic surgery between 2010 and 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood and peritoneal fluid were collected during laparoscopy and T cell subpopulations were analysed by flow cytometry using specific monoclonal antibodies recognizing CD4⁺, CD25⁺ and FOXP3⁺ markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of CD25(high) FOXP3⁺ Treg cells was significantly decreased in the peripheral blood of women with ovarian endometriosis compared with control women. On the other hand, the proportion of these cells was significantly increased in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study is limited to patients with ovarian endometrioma and further investigations are needed, including patients with lower grade of endometriosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results suggest that Treg cells may play a part in immunopathogenesis of endometriosis being responsible for abrogated local cellular immune responses and facilitation and development of autoimmune reactions. Treg cells may be thus a potential target in the treatment of endometriosis.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This study was supported by 1M15/N/2011 and NK1W grants from the I Faculty of Medicine, Warsaw Medical University. None of the authors has any competing interests to declare.
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantology and Central Tissue Bank, Centre of Biostructure Research,  Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw 02-004,  Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olkowska-Truchanowicz
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bocian
authors.forename: Radosław B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Maksym
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Białoszewska
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Włodarczyk
authors.forename: Włodzimierz
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baranowski
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ząbek
authors.forename: Grażyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Korczak-Kowalska
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malejczyk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D010535:Laparoscopy; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015704:CD4 Antigens; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C508017:IL2RA protein, human; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit