Periductal Mastitis: An Inflammatory Disease Related to Bacterial Infection and Consequent Immune Responses?
Periductal mastitis (PDM) is a prolonged inflammatory disease, but the cause of PDM is poorly understood. In the present case control study, 87 PDM and 87 healthy controls were enrolled and the results were evaluated to identify the significant risk factors for PDM. To investigate the roles of bacterial infection and critical cytokines expression, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bacterial culturing were conducted. We also measured the levels of interferon-γ, interleukin-12A, and interleukin-17A by semiquantitative immunohistochemistry method. In a multivariable logistic regression model, we identified overweight/obesity and late onset of menarche as independent risk factors for PDM. In contrast, age of first birth >27 years had a protective effect. With 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we confirmed bacterial infections were found in all PDM patients, but none of the control patients was positive on the gene expression of 16S rRNA. Our results also demonstrated significant increases of the IFN-γand IL-12A expression in PDM, but there was no difference in IL-17A expression in these two groups. Taken together, this study suggests that reproductive factors and overweight/obesity are possible predisposing risk factors for PDM. Bacterial infection and the increased expression of some proinflammatory cytokines are associated with the pathogenesis of this disease.
Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China; School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China.
Lu
L
Liu
Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China.
Fei
F
Zhou
Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China; Department of Breast Surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, China.
Pin
P
Wang
Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China.
Lixiang
L
Yu
Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China.
Zhongbing
Z
Ma
Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China.
Yuyang
Y
Li
Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China.
Dezong
D
Gao
Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China.
Qiang
Q
Zhang
Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China.
Liang
0000-0001-9636-560X
L
Li
Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China.
Zhigang
0000-0002-3093-4491
Z
Yu
D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism; D008413:Mastitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D020381:Interleukin-17; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma