The Influence of Extracellular Matrix Proteins on T‐cell Proliferation and Apoptosis in Women with Endometriosis or Uterine Leiomyoma

Agnieszka Chrobak, Grzegorz B Gmyrek, Rafał Sozański, Urszula Sieradzka, Maria Paprocka, M Gabryś, Marian Gabryś, Małgorzata Jerzak
American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) · 2004 · vol. 51(2) , pp. 123–129 · doi:10.1046/j.8755-8920.2003.00129.x · PMID:14748838 · W2090406451
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This study found that T cells from women with endometriosis or leiomyoma showed increased proliferation and beta1 integrin expression when exposed to extracellular matrix proteins, suggesting a role in disease pathogenesis.

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Abstract

PROBLEM: Interactions between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and peripheral blood T cells in women with endometriosis and leiomyoma are hardly unknown. We have investigated the influence of two major ECM components, collagen IV (C-IV) and fibronectin (Fn), on T-cell proliferation and apoptosis in women with endometriosis and uterine leiomyoma. beta1 integrin expression, responsible for interactions with ECM proteins, was also studied. METHOD OF STUDY: Peripheral blood lymphocytes were obtained from 53 women (17 with uterine leiomyomas, 18 with endometriosis, and 18 from healthy donors). T cells were exposed to ECM proteins co-immobilized with monoclonal antibody anti-CD3 for 72 hr. Apoptosis and S phase of the cell cycle of the T cells were studied by DNA analysis using flow cytometry. The proliferation of T cells was evaluated by MTT assay. The percentage of CD3+ cells expressing CD29 (beta1 integrin chain) was evaluated by double-color flow cytometry. Results were analyzed statistically using the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: (1) A general increase in the percentage of T cells in S phase could be seen in women with endometriosis and uterine leiomyoma in all culture conditions what may suggest general activation of T cells. (2) A significant increase in the percentage of cells in S phase was shown only in the case of T cells exposed to anti-CD3 + C-IV in both women with uterine leiomyoma and endometriosis. (3) However, no apoptotic cells were observed. (4) T cells from patients with uterine leiomyoma exhibited significantly increased level of proliferation after culture with anti-CD3 + C-IV. (5) More T cells expressed beta1 integrin in women with endometriosis or uterine leiomyoma than in healthy donors. Our data may suggest that increased beta1 integrin expression may enhance T-cell-ECM interactions, which may be responsible for the increased proliferation of T cells but not for apoptosis. Therefore, it is possible that interactions of T cells with ECM proteins, especially with C-IV, may contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis and uterine leiomyoma.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Apoptosis Endometriosis Extracellular Matrix Proteins Leiomyoma T-Lymphocytes Uterine Neoplasms Apoptosis Apoptosis CD3 Complex CD3 Complex Cell Culture Techniques Cell Cycle Cell Cycle Cell Cycle Endometriosis Extracellular Matrix Proteins Extracellular Matrix Proteins Female Humans Integrin beta1

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