Immune aging from the position of gynecological endocrinology: Starting point

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Postmenopause is accompanied by several body changes, including those in the immune system. Studying the molecular pathways linking the decrease in the level of sex steroids in the postmenopausal period with immune aging is important to completely understand the pathophysiology of immune aging, which will allow for accurate identification of potential therapy targets for autoimmune, oncological, cardiovascular diseases and prevention of infectious diseases in women during the postmenopausal period.

AIM: To compare cellular immunity and cytokine profile parameters in women during perimenopause and early postmenopause.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The single-center, cross-sectional study included 50 women aged 45–59 years of reproductive stage, perimenopause, and early postmenopause. The main subpopulations of blood cells, namely, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD3⁺CD8⁺), T helper cells (CD3⁺CD4⁺), NK cells (CD56⁺CD16⁺), B lymphocytes (CD3^–CD19⁺HLA^–DR⁺), and classical (CD14⁺⁺CD16^–), nonclassical (CD14^–CD16⁺⁺), and intermediate (CD14⁺CD16⁺⁺) monocytes and proinflammatory (CD86, CD80, CD40, and CX3CR1) and anti-inflammatory (CD163, CD206) markers on isolated monocyte populations were analyzed using flow cytometry (FACSCalibur; Becton Dickinson, USA). To detect blood plasma cytokines, a multiplex analysis method was used (Bio-Plex Human Cytokine Screening Panel; Bio-Rad Laboratories, USA).

RESULTS: In women, reproductive aging during the transition stage of reproductive aging from perimenopause to postmenopause is accompanied by increased monocyte-associated inflammatory reaction and humoral response, which is expressed in the redistribution of the monocyte population toward nonclassical monocytes (p=0.034) and increased level of B lymphocytes by 1.8 times (p=0.023) and significantly (p=0.022) increases levels of MCP-1, a marker associated with inflammation.

CONCLUSION: Immune system aging in both sexes is a natural process of ontogenesis, and in women, it correlates with the entry into the postmenopausal period. Hormonal background changes with the shutdown of ovarian function are naturally reflected in the composition of immune cells in the blood and the cytokine composition of its plasma.

Keywords

immune system / immunity / estrogens / menopause / aging

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Funding

Российский научный фондRussian Science FoundationRussian Science Foundation(24-25-00203)

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