Evaluation of Th17 cell frequency and expression of microRNAs and Th17 related factors in patients with Premature ovarian failure (POF)

Abstract

Ovarian follicles consist of three types of cells: oocyte cells, granulosa cells, and decasels. Folliculogenesis is a regular process during which primordial follicles are transformed into primary follicles, then into preantral follicles, and finally into antral follicles, and finally ovulation occurs. It happens that if folliculogenesis changes, it can lead to POF (ovarian failure), which is one of the common problems of women. There are two types of POF, in the first type the ovarian follicles are completely removed while in the second type the ovarian follicular structures are preserved. Probably the most important mechanism in ovarian failure is follicular dysfunction and follicular deletion. miR-326 of It is one of the microRNAs whose expression leads to the production of TH17. On the other hand, Th17 leads to an increase in the response of the immune system, and with the secretion of IL17, it plays a role in inflammation, autoimmune diseases, allergies, and infections. Inflammation caused by TH17 and loss of balance between TH17/Treg can lead to POF.

Materials and methods : In this study, 30 patients with POF and 30 healthy individuals were sampled. After isolating peripheral blood mononuclear cells, investigating the frequency of Th17 cells, the expression level of miRNAs (mir-326), transcription factors and specific cytokines of these cells and the level of secretory levels of these cytokines in the peripheral blood of patients respectively with Flow cytometry, Real-time PCR and ELISA were used.

Findings: Compared to the control group, our results showed a significantly increased frequency of Th17 cells along with an increase in the transcription factor RORγt in premature ovarian failure patients, the level of inflammatory cytokines (IL-17) secretion in the samples of premature ovarian failure patients was significantly higher was increased to the control group. The results of investigating microRNAs related to Th17 cells also showed increased expression of miR-326 microRNA in women with premature ovarian failure.