ABSTRACT
Objective
To analyze and compare the expression of Toll-like receptors by regulatory T cells present in the peritoneal fluid of patients with and without endometriosis.
Methods
Regulatory T cells were isolated from peritoneal fluid of women with and without endometriosis, collected during surgery, and mRNA was extracted for analysis of Toll-like receptors expression by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.
Results
Patients with endometriosis presented regulatory T cells expressing a larger number and variety of Toll-like receptors when compared to regulatory T cells from patients in the Control Group. Toll-like receptor-1 and Toll-like receptor-2 in regulatory T cells were expressed in both groups. All other expressed Toll-like receptors types were only found in regulatory T cells from the Endometriosis Group.
Conclusion
Patients with endometriosis had peritoneal regulatory T cells expressing various Toll-like receptors types.
T-lymphocytes, regulatory; Toll-like receptors; Immune system; Endometriosis
