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- Title
THE ROLE OF B LYMPHOCYTES AND PRESENCE OF GERMINAL CENTERS IN PATIENTS WITH LOCALIZED PROVOKED VULVODYNIA.
- Authors
DEMİRAL KELEŞ, İrem; YAŞA, Cenk; ÖNDER, Semen; YAVUZ, Ekrem; TUZLALI, Sıtkı; AKHAN, Süleyman Engin
- Abstract
Objective: The aim of the study is to assess local immune activation through B lymphocytes density and the presence of germinal centers in the vestibular mucosa of patients with localized provoked vulvodynia (LPV). Materials and Methods: Vestibulectomy specimens of 29 patients with LPV and colporrhaphy posterior specimens of 20 control women were included in the study. Immunohistochemical staining with CD20 antibodies for B lymphocytes were performed and subsequently, microscopical evaluation for B lymphocytes density and the presence of germinal centers was conducted. Results: B lymphocyte densities were higher in the vestibular mucosa of patients with LPV compared to control women (87 vs 21, p<0.01). The presence of germinal centers was only observed in the specimens of patients with LPV (0.31 vs 0, p<0.011). Conclusion: The presence of germinal centers with increased B lymphocyte density underlines a local immune activation in the vestibule of patients with LPV. An abnormal germinal center response can trigger the pathway to the development of autoimmunity through the emergence of an autoreactive B cell clone and autoantibodies. LPV can potentially emerge as an autoimmune disease of the vestibule. More studies are needed to understand the pathophysiology of LPV and its association with autoimmunity.
- Subjects
B cells; GERMINAL centers; VULVODYNIA; IMMUNOSTAINING; CLONE cells
- Publication
Journal of Istanbul Faculty of Medicine / İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, 2022, Vol 85, Issue 1, p105
- ISSN
1305-6441
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.26650/IUITFD.903684