Leukocyte dynamics in female reproductive health: roles and mechanisms

Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu, Getrude Uzoma Obeagu
Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) · 2025 · vol. 87(6) , pp. 3268–3278 · doi:10.1097/ms9.0000000000002926 · PMID:40486577 · PMC12140759 · W4406098833
review OA: gold CC0 ⤵ 3 in-corpus citations
📄 Open PDF View on OpenAlex View on PubMed View at publisher
⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

This review examines the dynamic roles and mechanisms of leukocytes, including neutrophils, macrophages, and NK cells, in female reproductive processes, highlighting their involvement in tissue remodeling, hormonal regulation, and immune tolerance, and their dysregulation in reproductive disorders.

One-sentence paraphrase of the abstract; not a substitute for reading it. No clinical advice. How this works

Abstract

Leukocytes are critical mediators of immune responses and play multifaceted roles in female reproductive health, influencing processes such as menstruation, ovulation, implantation, pregnancy, and parturition. This review examines the dynamic involvement of key leukocyte populations, including neutrophils, macrophages, T lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, and dendritic cells, across reproductive processes. Leukocytes contribute to tissue remodeling, hormonal regulation, immune tolerance, and pathogen defense. Dysregulation in their functions is implicated in reproductive disorders such as endometriosis, recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), and complications arising from infections. The review integrates emerging insights into the molecular mechanisms governing leukocyte behavior, emphasizing the roles of cytokines, hormones, and chemokines in guiding their recruitment and activity. Key findings underscore the significance of leukocyte-mediated cytokine networks in maintaining immune homeostasis during pregnancy and their critical roles in spiral artery remodeling for fetal-maternal exchange. Neutrophils and macrophages support menstrual shedding and repair, while NK cells facilitate trophoblast invasion and placental development. Dysregulated leukocyte activity contributes to chronic inflammation in endometriosis and impaired immune tolerance in RPL. Additionally, leukocytes are central to immune defenses against infections, but excessive inflammation can lead to infertility or adverse pregnancy outcomes. Therapeutic strategies targeting these immune cells hold promise for managing reproductive health disorders by modulating inflammation, enhancing immune tolerance, and developing biomarkers for early diagnosis. In conclusion, leukocyte dynamics are integral to reproductive physiology and pathology, with significant potential for translational research to optimize reproductive health outcomes.

My notes (saved in your browser only)

Condition tags

endometriosisinfertility

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (60)

Cited by (3)

Source provenance

europepmc
last seen: 2026-06-11T06:19:48.454388+00:00
openalex
last seen: 2026-06-04T00:00:01.174412+00:00
pmc
last seen: 2026-05-13T20:22:03.195721+00:00
pubmed
last seen: 2026-05-19T00:31:16.128783+00:00
License: CC0 · commercial use OK