title: The disturbance of TH17-Treg cell balance in adenomyosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the balance between regulatory T cells (Treg) and T-helper 17 cells (T(H)17) in peripheral blood and uteri of women with adenomyosis (AM), and to evaluate their potential correlation with dysmenorrhea and CA-125 levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory study using human peripheral blood and tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five patients with AM (study group) and 25 women without AM (control group).
  
  
  METHODS
  The peripheral blood and tissues harvested from all groups were subjected to flow cytometry, ELISA, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry. The severity of dysmenorrhea was distinguished by visual analog scale (VAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  T(H)17 and Treg cell frequency, mRNA and protein levels of transcription factors and cytokines in all groups, and their correlation between the T(H)17-Treg ratio and dysmenorrhea severity or CA-125 level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The disturbance of T(H)17-Treg balance was demonstrated in peripheral circulation and uteri of patients with both diffuse and focal AM, and it correlated positively with dysmenorrhea severity and CA-125.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that T(H)17-Treg imbalance may play a crucial role in the immunopathogenesis of AM, and may be thus a potential target of AM therapy.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ChiCTR-CCC-13003500.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, Affiliated with Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Branch of China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Gui
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, Affiliated with Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Branch of China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors: Chen
authors: C
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, Affiliated with Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Branch of China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors: Zhenzhen
authors: Z
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, Affiliated with Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Branch of China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors: Weiwei
authors: W
authors: Tang
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, Affiliated with Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Branch of China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors: Ruyun
authors: R
authors: Qian
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, Affiliated with Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Branch of China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors: Xiaoping
authors: X
authors: Ma
authors: Jiangsu Branch of China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: pcao79@yahoo.com.
authors: Peng
authors: P
authors: Cao
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, Affiliated with Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People's Republic of China; Jiangsu Branch of China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Nanjing, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: wanguiping@263.net.
authors: Guiping
authors: G
authors: Wan
mesh_terms: D062788:Adenomyosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Adenomyosis; T(H)17; Treg; cytokines; immunopathogenesis