Neutrophils, monocytes and other immune components in the equine endometrium: Friends or foes?
Abstract: The innate and adaptive immune mechanisms are key components of regulation of reproductive physiological function and uterine disorders in equine uterus. The predominant immunological response in equine endometrium, characterized by an innate immune response, occurs under estrogens influence, in the follicular phase. Although, the increase in immune-related genes in equine endometrium during estrus has been suggested to play a role in uterine clearance after mating, immune cells and their product, i.e. cytokines play also mandatory role in the luteal development and maintenance, regression of equine corpus luteum, as well as in early pregnancy. Innate immune response is nonspecific and acts as the first line of defense against pathogens, foreign stimuli that include constituents of seminal fluid and local infections (endometritis). It has been recently established that a phagocytosis-independent mechanism to restrain bacteria, by means of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation, is involved in pathogenesis of in mare endometrial fibrosis (endometrosis). Moreover, persistent macrophages and mast cell activation could also have pro-fibrotic roles by secreting great amounts of pro-fibrotic factors and lead to fibrosis. This review will highlight the involvement of immune key components of the innate and adaptive immune system and their products in equine uterus and their contribution to reproductive physiological function and uterine disorders.
Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2020-01-13 PubMed ID: 31973963DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.01.018Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The article studies the role of various immune components such as neutrophils and monocytes in the equine endometrium (uterus lining), and their impact on reproductive functioning and uterine disorders. It also discusses the influence of hormones like estrogen on immune responses and the possible role of certain immune cells in complications like endometritis and fibrosis.
Role of Immune Mechanisms in Equine Reproduction
- The article initially focuses on establishing the importance of innate and adaptive immune mechanisms in regulating the reproductive functions and health of the equine uterus. The paper especially shines a light on the role of an innate immune response influenced by estrogen, playing a predominant role during the follicular phase.
- The authors suggest that an increase in immune-related genes during estrus might play a role in uterine clearance post mating. They also emphasize that immune cells and their products like cytokines are critical in the development and maintenance of the luteal phase, regression of the corpus luteum, and in early stages of pregnancy.
First Line of Defence: Innate Immune Response
- The paper further discusses the role of the innate immune response as a nonspecific, first line of defense against pathogens and foreign stimuli. This includes the constituents of seminal fluid and local infections like endometritis.
- Recent findings suggest that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which restrain bacteria through a mechanism not reliant on phagocytosis, play a role in the pathogenesis of equine endometrial fibrosis (endometrosis).
Pro-fibrotic Role of Persistent Immune Cells
- The article also sheds light on the potential pro-fibrotic roles of persistent macrophages and mast cell activation. These cells could exacerbate fibrosis in the endometrium by secreting large amounts of pro-fibrotic factors.
- The review aims at highlighting the crucial roles of key immune system components and their products in both healthy and aberrant equine uterine function.
Cite This Article
APA
Skarzynski DJ, Szóstek-Mioduchowska AZ, Rebordão MR, Jalali BM, Piotrowska-Tomala KK, Leciejewska N, Łazarczyk M, Ferreira-Dias GM.
(2020).
Neutrophils, monocytes and other immune components in the equine endometrium: Friends or foes?
Theriogenology, 150, 150-157.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.01.018 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Reproductive Immunology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of PAS, Olsztyn, Poland. Electronic address: d.skarzynski@pan.olsztyn.pl.
- Department of Reproductive Immunology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of PAS, Olsztyn, Poland.
- Coimbra College of Agriculture, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; CIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Department of Reproductive Immunology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of PAS, Olsztyn, Poland.
- Department of Reproductive Immunology and Pathology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of PAS, Olsztyn, Poland.
- Department of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
- CIISA - Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Endometrium / immunology
- Endometrium / physiology
- Epigenesis, Genetic
- Female
- Horses / genetics
- Horses / immunology
- Horses / physiology
- Monocytes / immunology
- Monocytes / physiology
- Neutrophils / immunology
- Neutrophils / physiology
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Zdrojkowski Ł, Jasiński T, Ferreira-Dias G, Pawliński B, Domino M. The Role of NF-κB in Endometrial Diseases in Humans and Animals: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023 Feb 2;24(3).
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- Katila T, Ferreira-Dias G. Evolution of the Concepts of Endometrosis, Post Breeding Endometritis, and Susceptibility of Mares. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 19;12(6).
- Jasiński T, Zdrojkowski Ł, Kautz E, Juszczuk-Kubiak E, Ferreira-Dias G, Domino M. The NF-κB-signalling pathway in mare's endometrium infiltrated with the inflammatory cells. Reprod Domest Anim 2022 Jun;57(6):598-610.
- Fantini P, Jiménez R, Vilés K, Iborra A, Palhares MS, Catalán J, Prades M, Miró J. Simple Tube Centrifugation Method for Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Preparation in Catalonian Donkeys as a Treatment of Endometritis-Endometrosis. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 9;11(10).
- Wang X, Zeng W, Xu S, Nie J, Huang L, Lai Y, Yu Y. Up-regulation of DNA2 results in cell proliferation and migration in endometriosis. J Mol Histol 2021 Aug;52(4):741-749.
- Amaral A, Fernandes C, Morazzo S, Rebordão MR, Szóstek-Mioduchowska A, Lukasik K, Gawronska-Kozak B, Telo da Gama L, Skarzynski DJ, Ferreira-Dias G. The Inhibition of Cathepsin G on Endometrial Explants With Endometrosis in the Mare. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:582211.
- Mikhalev S, Kostin A, Kurtser M, Radzinsky V, Orazov M, Alekhnovich A, Prikhodko A, Demyashkin G, Klabukov I, Baranovskii D, Elieh-Ali-Komi D, Buchwalow I, Tiemann M, Mikhaleva L, Atiakshin D. Spatial Phenotype of the Mast Cell Population in Endometritis of Various Severities. Cells 2025 Dec 24;15(1).
- Wójtowicz A, Sadowska A, Molcan T, Słyszewska M, Drzewiecka EM, Tobolski D, Ferreira-Dias G, Szóstek-Mioduchowska A. Th1 and Th2 cells in equine endometrosis and their interactions with endometrial fibroblasts. Sci Rep 2025 Oct 16;15(1):36263.
- Satué K, La Fauci D, Medica P, Damiá Gímenez E, Cravana C, Fazio E. Shifts between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory profiles in pregnant mares: a review of physiological functions. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1660759.
- Piotrowska-Tomala KK, Szóstek-Mioduchowska A, Jonczyk AW, Drzewiecka EM, Wrobel MH, Hojo T, Ferreira-Dias G, Skarzynski DJ. The effect of lysophosphatidic acid on myometrial contractility and the mRNA transcription of its receptors in the myometrium at different stages of endometrosis in mares. BMC Vet Res 2024 Dec 19;20(1):571.
- Yu J, Li X, Zhou M, Lu M, Ruan Z, Zou W, Yu S. Schisandrin B Inhibits LPS-Induced Endometritis Through Attenuating Ferroptosis via AMPK/PGC1α/Nrf2 Signalling Pathway. J Cell Mol Med 2024 Dec;28(23):e70281.
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