Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Menstrual cycle distribution of uterine natural killer cells is altered in heavy menstrual bleeding

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Judith Bulmer, Barbara Innes, Dr Gendie Lash

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

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.


Publication metadata

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


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
Newcastle University
RG1342Wellbeing of Women

Share