Differential Cytotoxic Function of Resident and Non-resident CD8+ T Cells in the Human Female Reproductive Tract Before and After Menopause.

ABSTRACT: The functional characterization and regulation of tissue resident and non-resident CD8+ T cells in the human female reproductive tract (FRT) as women age remains a gap in our knowledge. Here we characterized the cytotoxic activity and granular contents of CD8+ T cells from the FRT in pre- and postmenopausal women. We found that under steady-state conditions, CD8+ T cells from endometrium (EM), endocervix and ectocervix displayed direct cytotoxic activity, and that cytotoxicity increased in the EM after menopause. Cytotoxic activity was sensitive to suppression by TGFβ exclusively in the EM, and sensitivity to TGFβ was reduced after menopause. Under steady-state conditions, cytotoxic activity (measured as direct killing activity), cytotoxic potential (measured as content of cytotoxic molecu

SUBMITTER: Rodriguez-Garcia M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7287154 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature