Pilot Data Suggest That Obesity and Presence of Malignancy Are Associated with Altered Immune Cell Infiltration in Endometrial Biopsies.

(1)

Background

The worldwide endometrial cancer (EC) incidence is rising, amongst others linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and metabolic syndrome, possibly due to low-grade adipose tissue inflammation. We studied immune cell infiltration in the endometrium in relation to diagnosis and obesity. (2)

Methods

A cohort was created (n = 44) from postmenopausal women, lean (n = 15) and obese (n = 29), with bleeding complaints due to EC (n = 18) or benign pathology (n = 26). Endometrial biopsies were used to study the immune microenvironment and stained for macrophages (CD68 and CD163), T-cells (CD3 and CD8), and NK-cells (CD56). (3)

Results

Malignant samples showed reduced intraepithelial CD3+ and CD8+ T-cells and increased stromal CD3+ T-cells. In obese patients, increased intraepithelial CD3+ and CD8+ T-cells were detected, especially in obese patients with T2DM. Epithelial CD56+ NK-cells were depleted in EC; however, no effect of obesity on NK-cell infiltration was observed. Stromal CD68+ cells were reduced in EC patients, whereas the CD163+ cells were increased. (4)

Conclusions

Obesity and malignancy are associated with differences in immune cell presence. The alterations in immune cell infiltration seen in obese EC patients with and without diabetes suggest a complex interaction where obesity-related low-grade inflammation plays a central role.