Biomedicines最新文献

{"title":"The Prognostic Role of IL-6 and RBP4 in Colorectal Cancer.","authors":"Małgorzata Żulicka, Daria Piątkowska, Dariusz Grzanka, Klaudia Bonowicz, Dominika Jerka, Maciej Gagat, Paulina Antosik","doi":"10.3390/biomedicines13092257","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biomedicines13092257","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives:</b> Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Inflammation and metabolic dysregulation, particularly those related to obesity, have emerged as critical contributors to CRC progression. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), an adipokine involved in metabolic regulation, may be key mediators of these processes. This study aimed to evaluate the expression levels of IL-6 and RBP4 in CRC tissues and their associations with clinicopathological features and overall survival. Furthermore, in silico analyses were performed to explore the molecular networks and signaling pathways related to both biomarkers. <b>Methods:</b> Immunohistochemical staining of IL-6 and RBP4 was conducted in 118 CRC and matched adjacent normal tissues. Expression levels were assessed using the H-score system and correlated with clinical parameters. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves. In silico analyses were based on RNA-seq data from TCGA and included pathway enrichment, gene co-expression, and protein-protein interaction networks. <b>Results:</b> IL-6 and RBP4 expression were significantly elevated in tumor tissue compared to adjacent normal mucosa. High IL-6 expression correlated with age and obesity measures, while RBP4 expression showed significant associations with pT stage, lymph node involvement, TNM stage, and obesity-related parameters. Kaplan-Meier analyses indicated shorter overall survival in patients with high IL-6 or RBP4 expression. In silico analysis confirmed upregulation of IL6 and RBP4 in CRC and highlighted immune-related pathways for IL-6 and developmental signaling for RBP4. <b>Conclusions:</b> Elevated expression of IL-6 and RBP4 in CRC tissue is associated with adverse clinical features and reduced survival, underscoring their potential role as prognostic biomarkers. These findings support the involvement of inflammation and metabolic dysfunction in CRC progression and suggest IL-6 and RBP4 as candidates for future targeted therapeutic approaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":8937,"journal":{"name":"Biomedicines","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467132/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145173232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the Associations Between <i>CHRNA5</i> and <i>IREB2</i> Gene Polymorphisms and COPD in the Kazakhstan Population.","authors":"Almira Akparova, Gaukhar Kurmanova, Gulzhan Trimova, Yeldar Ashirbekov, Diana Nigmatova, Balkiya Abdrakhmanova, Zhanar Mussagulova, Gulzhana Idrisova, Anarkul Kulembayeva, Almagul Kurmanova","doi":"10.3390/biomedicines13092260","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biomedicines13092260","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive inflammatory lung disease characterized by irreversible airway obstruction. This study aims to investigate the associations between COPD and its phenotypes with polymorphic variants of the <i>IREB2</i> and <i>CHRNA5</i> genes in the Kazakhstan population. <b>Methods</b>: A case-control study was conducted involving 265 COPD patients and 267 controls. Genotyping of the <i>IREB2</i> polymorphisms <i>rs13180</i> and <i>rs2568494</i>, as well as <i>CHRNA5 rs16969968</i> polymorphism, was performed using real-time polymerase chain reactions (Real-Time PCRs). <b>Results</b>: A higher frequency of the AA genotype of the <i>IREB2 rs2568494</i> polymorphism was identified in COPD patients with moderate to very severe airflow obstruction (Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages II, III, and IV), with an odds ratio of 0.69 (95% CI = 0.23-2.10; Padj = 0.03). The <i>IREB2 rs13180</i> polymorphism was significantly more frequent or prevalent in smokers and showed a correlation with FEV₁ (forced expiratory volume in one second) (β = 7.79, SE = 2.98, <i>p</i> = 0.01) and FEV₁/ FVC (forced vital capacity) (β = 9.51, SE = 2.95, <i>p</i> = 0.002). Additionally, the CC genotype of this polymorphism was associated with clinical manifestations of COVID-19 in COPD patients (χ²= 3,95, df = 2, <i>p</i> = 0.05). <b>Conclusions</b>: Our study identified a significant association between the <i>IREB2 rs2568494</i> polymorphism and an increased risk of severe COPD. The <i>IREB2 rs13180</i> polymorphism was linked to smoking behavior, as well as key lung function indicators, suggesting its potential role in disease progression and lung damage. Furthermore, the CC genotype of the <i>IREB2 rs13180</i> polymorphism was associated with clinical manifestations of COVID-19 in COPD patients, indicating a potential impact of this genetic variant on susceptibility to viral infections in this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":8937,"journal":{"name":"Biomedicines","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467761/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145173042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Magnesium and Zinc in Schizophrenia.","authors":"Mihai Nechifor","doi":"10.3390/biomedicines13092249","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biomedicines13092249","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Schizophrenia is a severe recurrent chronic disease that affects a large number of patients. Numerous genetic and epigenetic factors are involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. The involvement of magnesium and zinc has been relatively little studied and often underestimated. The main mechanisms by which zinc and magnesium are involved in the pathogenesis of these diseases is their influence on the neurotransmitter systems at the cerebral level (dopaminergic, glutamatergic, serotoninergic, GABAergic, catecholaminergic and cannabinoid systems). The action of many other factors involved in one form or another in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia is influenced by magnesium and zinc. Among these factors, we mention neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, nuclear factor kB (NF-kappaB), galanin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), substance P(SP), oxytocin, ACTH, prolactin and others. There are also data related to some interactions between antipsychotic medication and the two cations, as well as to disturbed physiological processes (sleep, appetite) in patients with schizophrenia. The existing data show that the concentrations of the two cations must always be determined and the deficits immediately corrected.</p>","PeriodicalId":8937,"journal":{"name":"Biomedicines","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12466978/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145173024","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Current Concepts in Pathogenesis and Conservative Management of Supraspinous Tendinopathies Using Shockwave Therapy-A Narrative Review of the Literature.","authors":"Roxana Nartea, Ioana Ghiorghiu, Maria-Delia Alexe, Gavril Lucian Gheorghievici, Brindusa Ilinca Mitoiu","doi":"10.3390/biomedicines13092253","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biomedicines13092253","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The supraspinatus has been well studied in recent years, since the rotator cuff muscle is most commonly damaged, affecting the quality of life for patients with tendinopathy. Despite this tiny but crucial muscle being well-described, there is still much left to learn and discover, especially because chronic supraspinatus tendinopathy is a common pain syndrome that causes functional and labor disabilities in the population. The present narrative review, including systematic elements from biomechanical and clinical studies, highlights the role of conservative treatment using shockwave therapy. <b>Objectives</b>: We set out to perform a complex analysis of the literature on this topic to identify possible pathophysiological mechanisms that can be used to establish proper therapeutic management, focused specifically on conservative treatment using shockwave therapy. <b>Methods</b>: We researched the medical literature, including clinical studies that met the criteria of being published after 2014. In this review, we described the mechanisms and histological changes in tendinopathy to illustrate the biological effects of shockwave therapy and performed a literature review on its therapeutic effects. <b>Conclusions</b>: The multifaced pathophysiology of supraspinous tendinopathies compromised the healing responses. Recent findings highlight the value of a thorough diagnostic and treatment strategy, with shockwave therapy (ESWT) as a conservative treatment option. According to available data, shockwave therapy has demonstrated significant improvement in function, improving participants' discomfort, quality of life, and pain relief. It can also be combined with isometric exercise. Given the substantial risk of bias and heterogeneity, our findings should be interpreted cautiously. The need for more research to optimize parameters and provide standardized clinical guidelines is highlighted by the variety of treatment procedures. Improving outcomes in patients with supraspinous tendinopathies will require a better comprehension of the pathology, and individualized treatment needs to be further investigated.</p>","PeriodicalId":8937,"journal":{"name":"Biomedicines","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467621/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145173034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antimicrobial Resistance of Non-Fermenting Gram-Negative Bacilli in a Multidisciplinary Hospital in Romania.","authors":"Miruna-Maria Apetroaei, Mihaela Cristina Negulescu, Sorina Hîncu, Adriana Tăerel, Manuela Ghica, Andreea Letiția Arsene, Denisa Ioana Udeanu","doi":"10.3390/biomedicines13092255","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biomedicines13092255","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in <i>Acinetobacter</i> spp., <i>Pseudomonas</i> spp., and <i>Stenotrophomonas maltophilia</i> poses a significant risk in healthcare-associated infections. Constant monitoring using quantitative metrics is necessary to direct empirical treatment. <b>Methods:</b> We conducted a retrospective observational study at the Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania, analysing antibiogram data from January 2021 to December 2024. Over 200,000 microbiological records were screened, and 1189 isolates of the three targeted pathogens were included. The Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Index (MARI) was applied to evaluate selective pressure across years, hospital departments, sample types, and hospitalisation categories. <b>Results:</b><i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> exhibited the highest resistance levels, with median MARI values exceeding 0.25 in 2024, particularly in Intensive Care and Transplant units. In contrast, <i>S. maltophilia</i> showed lower overall MARI values, though resistance variability increased in 2024 (extremes up to 0.30). Notably, resistance to carbapenems in <i>Acinetobacter</i> spp. rebounded in 2024, while <i>Pseudomonas</i> spp. demonstrated a favourable trend of decreasing resistance to several β-lactams. <b>Conclusion:</b> Our findings underscore significant interspecies differences in AMR dynamics and highlight the utility of MARI as a valuable operational indicator. Ongoing local surveillance is needed for refining empirical treatment protocols and informing antimicrobial stewardship in Romanian hospitals.</p>","PeriodicalId":8937,"journal":{"name":"Biomedicines","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467799/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145172656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring Genital Lichen Sclerosus: Navigating from Pathophysiology to Precise Diagnostic Approaches.","authors":"Maja Sever, Katarina Trčko, Tanja Zidarič, Tina Maver","doi":"10.3390/biomedicines13092252","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biomedicines13092252","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic, relapsing skin disease that predominantly affects the perineal and genital regions, although extragenital manifestations can occur. Despite its significant impact on patients' quality of life, particularly affecting sexual and urinary function, LS remains underdiagnosed. Multiple factors, including genetic predisposition, hormonal changes, immunological abnormalities, trauma, and urine irritation, contribute to its development and persistence. This review aims to clarify the complex pathophysiology of LS by exploring three main mechanisms: autoimmune dysregulation, sclerotic tissue formation, and oxidative stress. Autoimmune dysregulation involves T-cell infiltration and the roles of miR-155 and extracellular matrix protein 1 dysfunction, leading to chronic inflammation. miR-155 contributes to sclerotic tissue formation alongside galectin-7, promoting fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis. Oxidative stress results in tissue damage, autoimmunity, chronic inflammation, and an increased risk of carcinogenesis. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted therapies and improving LS management. Further research is needed to unravel the genetic basis, immune responses, and interactions between key mediators, ultimately advancing innovative therapeutic strategies and precision medicine in LS.</p>","PeriodicalId":8937,"journal":{"name":"Biomedicines","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467363/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145172994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Non-Pharmacological Treatment Methods of Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome-Review of the Literature.","authors":"Piotr Duda, Michał Granat, Stanisław J Czuczwar, Barbara Miziak","doi":"10.3390/biomedicines13092247","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biomedicines13092247","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is a severe form of childhood-onset epilepsy, often associated with pharmacoresistance. As complete seizure control is usually not achievable with the use of drug therapy, non-pharmacological treatment may be offered to intractable patients. In this review, we are going to present literature reports on various non-pharmacological treatments, including surgical and dietary methods. Surgical interventions, such as resective surgery, corpus callosotomy (CC), or neuromodulation therapies such as vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), and responsive neurostimulation (RNS), can be offered to pharmacoresistant patients. If the epileptogenic area can be detected, resective surgery is a treatment of choice. On the contrary, if non-invasive and invasive diagnostic methods fail to detect epileptogenic lesions, CC and VNS are considered palliative surgical methods. While both CC and VNS are considered effective in seizure reduction, CC is still more popular than VNS, although VNS seems to be related to better tolerability. Although all neuromodulation therapies require multidirectional optimization, DBS appears to be particularly promising for LGS. The classic ketogenic diet (cKD) is considered an effective and well-tolerated method in LGS treatment. The modified Atkins diet (MAD) and the low glycemic index treatment (LGIT) could be used as valuable alternatives due to their lower restrictiveness and better tolerability. Moreover, combinations of several treatment methods could significantly improve LGS patients' seizure outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":8937,"journal":{"name":"Biomedicines","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12468008/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145173173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sex-Stratified Prediction Models for 5-Year Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Risk in Thyroid Cancer Patients: A Nationwide Cohort Study.","authors":"Young Bin Cho, Kyoung Sik Park","doi":"10.3390/biomedicines13092250","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biomedicines13092250","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant complication among survivors of thyroid cancer; however, existing prediction models for NAFLD remain inadequate. Our objective was to develop survival prediction models for 5-year risk of NAFLD in patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer. <b>Methods</b>: Utilizing the Korean National Health Insurance Service claims database, we selected 3644 post-thyroidectomy patients with thyroid cancer between 2004 and 2014. Following a 7:3 stratified division into training and test datasets, we developed sex-stratified survival models using random survival forest (RSF) and Cox proportional hazards regression (Cox). The evaluation of prediction models was performed using Harrell's concordance index (C-index), time-dependent area under the curve (AUC), and risk stratification analysis. <b>Results</b>: In the female cohort, the Cox model exhibited a superior C-index of 0.67 (95% CI 0.61-0.72), surpassing the RSF model, which had a C-index of 0.62 (95% CI 0.57-0.68). Notably, age-stratified Cox models for females demonstrated enhanced performance compared to the unstratified female Cox model. Conversely, male-specific models did not show significant performance in NAFLD. Risk stratification analysis revealed that the female-specific models effectively categorized patients into low- and high-risk groups, with statistical significance (<i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions</b>: This study constructed well-performing time-to-event prediction models for NAFLD of female patients with thyroid cancer, which is significant in risk stratification.</p>","PeriodicalId":8937,"journal":{"name":"Biomedicines","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467750/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145173180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neuropsychomotor Development of Children Exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in Utero During COVID-19 Pandemic.","authors":"Felipe Motta, Maria Eduarda Canellas-de-Castro, Geraldo Magela Fernandes, Lizandra Moura Paravidine Sasaki, David Alves de Araújo Júnior, Alberto Moreno Zaconeta, Ângelo Pereira da Silva, Ciro Martins Gomes, Cleandro Pires Albuquerque, Ismael Artur Costa-Rocha, Janaina Araújo Teixeira Santos, José Alfredo Lacerda De Jesus, Karina Nascimento Costa, Laila Salmen Espindola, Licia Maria Henrique da Mota, Lucas Lauand, Luiz Cláudio Gonçalves de Castro, Marcelo Antônio Pascoal Xavier, Jordana Grazziela Alves Coelho-Dos-Reis, Otávio Toledo Nóbrega, Pabline Cavalcante da Silva, Rodrigo de Resende Nery, Wanessa Tavares Santos, Rosana Maria Tristão, Caroline Oliveira Alves, Olindo Assis Martins-Filho, Alexandre Anderson de Sousa Munhoz Soares","doi":"10.3390/biomedicines13092256","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biomedicines13092256","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction</b>: Little is known about the effects of intrauterine exposure to SARS-CoV-2, especially on growth and neurodevelopment in children. <b>Objective</b>: We wished to verify the effect of intrauterine exposure to SARS-CoV-2 on neurological development in children. <b>Methods</b>: Infants born to mothers presenting with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy were enrolled in a prospective descriptive-analytical study involving outpatient appointments performed 6 and 12 months after birth. Their neurological development was assessed using the Bayley-III Scale, using a score of >85 as the cutoff threshold for identifying developmental delay. Differences between groups were assessed through an ANOVA, using Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Regression models were employed to examine the associations between the Bayley-III scores and maternal features. <b>Results</b>: Two hundred and sixty-nine infants were evaluated, most of whom were born full-term and with birth weights appropriate for gestational age at delivery. Developmental delays were observed in 26% of the infants in at least one of the Bayley-III domains. The language domain was particularly affected, with impairments observed in children exposed to SARS-CoV-2 closer to the time of delivery. These findings were statistically significant (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <b>Conclusions</b>: Infants born to mothers presenting with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy presented developmental delays at 6 and 12 months, particularly in the language domain. These findings reinforce the relevance of long-term clinical follow-ups of newborns exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy.</p>","PeriodicalId":8937,"journal":{"name":"Biomedicines","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467609/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145173194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of CD138⁺ Plasma Cells and Natural Killer Cells in Couple Infertility: A Review.","authors":"Alessandro Messina, Alessandro Libretti, Ilaria Giovannini, Livio Leo, Valentino Remorgida, Bianca Masturzo, Raffaele Tinelli","doi":"10.3390/biomedicines13092248","DOIUrl":"10.3390/biomedicines13092248","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Couple infertility is a multifactorial condition that involves, among other factors, immunological alterations of the endometrium. CD138⁺ plasma cells and uterine Natural Killer (NK) cells have been associated with implantation failures and recurrent pregnancy loss, although the literature presents considerable heterogeneity in findings. This narrative review aims to synthesize current evidence on the role of these two immunological biomarkers in the pathophysiology of infertility. According to the current literature, the presence of CD138⁺ plasma cells was strongly associated with chronic endometritis and adverse reproductive outcomes, with improvement following targeted antibiotic therapy. NK cells, particularly in their hyperactive peripheral form, were elevated in infertile women, although data on uterine NK cells remain controversial. Recent studies suggest a possible interaction between chronic inflammation and NK dysfunction. A combined evaluation of CD138⁺ and NK cells may represent an integrated diagnostic approach in idiopathic infertility. Prospective studies are needed to standardize cut-off values and validate these markers in clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":8937,"journal":{"name":"Biomedicines","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12467151/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145173231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}