Changes in peripheral blood Tfh proportion and expression of function-related cytokines and their correlations with sex hormone levels in patients with POI
Objective To observe the changes in the proportion of peripheral blood T follicular helper(Tfh)cells and the expression of function-related cytokines in patients with premature ovarian insufficiency(POI),and to analyze their correlations with sex hormone levels.Methods We recruited 29 POI patients(observation group)and 31 healthy individuals(control group)for physical examination during the same period.We used flow cytometry to detect the propor-tion of Tfh in whole blood,immunoblotting to measure the expression of CXCR5 and BCL-6 proteins in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs),and ELISA to detect serum levels of IL-6 and IL-21.Electrochemiluminescence immunoas-say was employed to determine serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH),prolactin,progesterone,testosterone,estradiol(E2),and anti-Mullerian hormone(AMH).Spearman's correlation analysis was per-formed to assess the correlations between Tfh,CXCR5 protein,BCL-6 protein,IL-6,IL-21,and sex hormones.Results Compared with the control group,the observation group exhibited an increased proportion of Tfh in whole blood,elevated serum levels of IL-6 and IL-21,up-regulated expression of CXCR5 and BCL-6 proteins in PBMCs,higher serum levels of FSH and LH,and lower serum levels of E2 and AMH,with statistically significant differences(all P<0.05).The propor-tion of Tfh in whole blood was positively correlated with serum levels of FSH and LH(r =0.75 and 0.63,respectively;both P<0.05),and was negatively correlated with serum levels of E2 and AMH(r=-0.35 and-0.82,respectively;both P<0.05).Similarly,serum IL-6 level was positively correlated with serum FSH and LH levels(r = 0.75 and 0.62,respec-tively;both P<0.05)and was negatively correlated with serum E2 and AMH levels(r=-0.47 and-0.77,respectively;both P<0.05).Additionally,serum IL-12 level was positively correlated with serum FSH and LH levels(r=0.68 and 0.56,respectively;both P<0.05)and was negatively correlated with serum E2 and AMH levels(r=-0.25 and-0.73,respectively;both P<0.05).Expression of BCL-6 protein in PBMCs was positively correlated with serum FSH and LH lev-els(r=0.73 and 0.60,respectively;both P<0.05)and was negatively correlated with serum E2 and AMH levels(r=-0.27 and-0.76,respectively;both P<0.05).Similarly,the expression of CXCR5 protein in PBMCs was positively cor-related with serum FSH and LH levels(r=0.72 and 0.58,respectively;both P<0.05)and was negatively correlated with serum E2 and AMH levels(r=-0.27 and-0.70,respectively;both P<0.05).Conclusions In POI patients,there is an increased proportion of Tfh in whole blood,up-regulated expression of CXCR5 and BCL-6 proteins in PBMCs,elevated serum levels of IL-6,IL-21,FSH,and LH,as well as decreased levels of E2 and AMH.Tfh and its related factors show positive or negative correlations with sex hormones,suggesting that Tfh and its associated factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of POI.
国家科技期刊平台
NSTL
万方数据
