Blood Serum Levels of Proinflammatory Cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, IL-8, IL-12p70, and IFNγ) in Patients with Uterine Myoma

In Vivo Effects of Bay 11-7082 on Fibroid Growth and Gene Expression: A Preclinical Study

Current medical therapies for fibroids have major limitations due to their hypoestrogenic side effects. Based on our previous work showing the activation of NF-kB in fibroids, we hypothesized that inhibiting NF-kB in vivo would result in the shrinkage of tumors and reduced inflammation. Fibroid xenografts were implanted in SCID mice and treated daily with Bay 11-7082 (Bay) or vehicle for two months. Bay treatment led to a 50% reduction in tumor weight. RNAseq revealed decreased expression of genes related to cell proliferation, inflammation, extracellular matrix (ECM) composition, and growth factor expression. Validation through qRT-PCR, Western blotting, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) confirmed these findings. Bay treatment reduced mRNA expression of cell cycle regulators (CCND1, E2F1, and CKS2), inflammatory markers (SPARC, TDO2, MYD88, TLR3, TLR6, IL6, TNFα, TNFRSF11A, and IL1β), ECM remodelers (COL3A1, FN1, LOX, and TGFβ3), growth factors (PRL, PDGFA, and VEGFC), progesterone receptor, and miR-29c and miR-200c. Collagen levels were reduced in Bay-treated xenografts. Western blotting and IHC showed decreased protein abundance in certain ECM components and inflammatory markers, but not cleaved caspase three. Ki67, CCND1, and E2F1 expression decreased with Bay treatment. This preclinical study suggests NF-kB inhibition as an effective fibroid treatment, suppressing genes involved in proliferation, inflammation, and ECM remodeling.

Blood Cytokines of the Ovarian Vein Basin in Different Stages of Pelvic Varicose Veins

We analyzed the blood concentration of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the ovarian vein basin area in women of the reproductive age with primary pelvic varices. Increase in the disease severity was accompanied by a significant increase in proinflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8) and the proinflammatory index (IL-6/IL-10), whereas anti-inflammatory cytokine production changed ambiguously (increase of IL-4 at stage I, decrease of IL-10 at stage II, significant decrease of IL-4 and IL-10 at stage III). Control of these changes in female patients should probably be an important component of treatment measures and prevention of morphofunctional disorders occurring at disease progression, in particular at stage III of the disease.

The role of adipokines in leiomyomas development

INTRODUCTION

Many women of premenopausal age suffer from uterine leiomyomas, which are benign tumors of the uterus. Despite the high prevalence of uterine leiomyomas underlying pathogenesis mechanisms are not fully elucidated. Early data showed a positive correlation between increased levels of adipose tissue and leiomyomas prevalence. Adipose tissue cells-adipocytes can play a potential role in leiomyomas formation by producing and secreting adipokines.

AIM

The aim of this study is to summarize the current knowledge on the potential relation between adipokines and leiomyomas basing on current data analyze, and justify future research directions.

METHODOLOGY

This review is based on pertinent articles searched using PubMed, encompassing all available literature. The key search words were as follows: adipokines, leiomyoma, TNFα, leptin, adiponectin, visfatin, resistin, omentin, lipocalin, apelin, adipsin, chemerin. Time was not an exclusion criterium due to few available studies on this subject.

SUMMARY

The results of the studies are inconclusive, but the vast majority indicates a significant connection between the adipokines and the leiomyomas. According to the majority of studies, TNFα contributes to the development of leiomyomas by inhibiting apoptosis, increasing migration of leiomyomas, and increasing fibrosis of leiomyomas. Most of the studies on the effects of leptin also indicate the relation between leptin and leiomyomas development. In the case of adiponectin released from mast cells' granularity, it is possible that adiponectin increases angiogenesis in leiomyomas. Under physiological conditions, adiponectin has the potential to inhibit the development of leiomyomas. The authors suggested that adiponectin affects leiomyomas via an insulin-dependent pathway or via an estrogen-dependent pathway. Most probably leptin contributes to the formation of myomas and adiponectin prevents this. More research is needed to understand better the influence of these molecules on the pathogenesis of leiomyomas.

Proinflammatory mediators and reproductive failure in women with uterine fibroids

OBJECTIVE

study the levels of proinflammatory mediators and their correlation with reproductivefailure in women with uterine fibroids (UF).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

90 women aged 18 - 45 years (mean age - 33.9 ± 0.31) were recruited in the study: 60 women with UF were included in the study group and 30 healthy women were included in the control group. The lymphocyte count was performed with laser-based flow cytofluorimetry. The levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interferon IFN-β (IFN-β), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrotizing factor α (TNF-α) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF basic) were detected with ELISA test. The diagnosis of UF was confirmed with histological examination of biopsy specimen.

RESULTS

Typical clinical features of UF (abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic pains, symptoms of adjacent organs compression) were found in 66.67% women in the study group while 18.33% of them had miscarriages and 26.67% had infertility. Women with UF had significantly higher absolute count of lymphocytes: CD3⁺, CD19⁺, CD16⁺CD56⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺, CD95⁺CD3⁺, proinflammatory mediators: TNF-α, IFN-β, CRP, FGF basic and decreased levels of IFN-γ compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION

In women of reproductive age, typical symptoms of UF are associated with reproductive failure with activation of adaptive immunity, angiogenic factors, inflammatory cell reactions, deficit of human antitumor factors, that is why detection of TNF-α, СРБ, IFN-γ in serum is necessary to perform in pregravid preparation of women, including IVF program.