Homeostatic leukocyte trafficking into and within the female reproductive tract (FRT) contributes to fertility and reproductive health. It is unclear how this process is regulated in the anatomically distinct reproductive tissues, or whether the genes involved are affected by cyclical changes in reproductive hormones. In tissues such as skin and intestine, mouse studies have defined evolutionarily conserved molecular mechanisms for tissue-specific homing, interstitial positioning, and leukocyte egress. Chemokine family members are invariably involved, with the chemokine expression profile of a tissue regulating leukocyte content. Reproductive tissues (ovary, vagina, cervix, uterine horn) of 8 week old virgin female C57BL/6 mice (n = 20) were collected, and expression of mRNA for leukocyte markers and chemokines conducted by qPCR. Lymphocytic and myeloid cell populations within the uterus, cervix, bone marrow and PALN from virgin C57BL/6 mice were determined by flow cytometric analysis. Variation in leukocyte content between reproductive tissues is evident, with the uterus and cervix containing complex mixtures of lymphocytes and myeloid cells. Twenty-six chemokine genes are expressed in the FRT, many by several component tissues, some preferentially by one. Most striking are Xcl1 and Ccl28, which are restricted to the uterus. Ccl20 and genes encoding CXCR2 ligands are primarily transcribed in cervix and vagina. Ovary shows the lowest expression of most chemokine genes, with the notable exception of Ccl21 and Ccl27. We also identify eight chemokines in the vagina whose expression fluctuates substantially across the oestrous cycle. These data reveal complex chemokine networks within the FRT, and provide a framework for future studies of homeostatic leukocyte trafficking into and within these tissues. Abbreviations: BM: bone marrow; DC: dendritic cell; DN: double negative; FRT: female reproductive tract; FSC: forward scatter; NK: natural killer; PALN: para-aortic lymph node; SSC: side scatter; Tregs: regulatory T cells.

中文翻译：

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小鼠雌性生殖道组织中趋化因子基因表达的全面概况。

进入女性生殖道（FRT）或体内的稳态白细胞有助于生育和生殖健康。目前尚不清楚该过程如何在解剖学上不同的生殖组织中进行调节，或者所涉及的基因是否受到生殖激素周期性变化的影响。在诸如皮肤和肠等组织中，小鼠研究定义了组织特异性归巢，间质定位和白细胞流出的进化保守分子机制。趋化因子家族成员始终参与调节组织白细胞含量的趋化因子表达谱。收集8周龄雌性C57BL / 6小鼠（n = 20）的生殖组织（卵巢，阴道，子宫颈，子宫角），并通过qPCR进行白细胞标志物和趋化因子的mRNA表达。通过流式细胞术分析确定来自原始C57BL / 6小鼠的子宫，子宫颈，骨髓和PALN内的淋巴细胞和骨髓细胞群。生殖组织之间白细胞含量的变化很明显，子宫和子宫颈含有淋巴细胞和髓样细胞的复杂混合物。FRT中表达了二十六个趋化因子基因，其中许多由几个组成组织表达，有些则优先由一个组成组织表达。最引人注目的是Xcl1和Ccl28，它们仅限于子宫。Ccl20和编码CXCR2配体的基因主要在子宫颈和阴道中转录。卵巢显示大多数趋化因子基因的最低表达，但Ccl21和Ccl27除外。我们还确定了八个趋化因子在阴道中的表达在整个发情周期中都会大幅波动。这些数据揭示了FRT内复杂的趋化因子网络，并为今后研究这些组织内和体内的稳态白细胞运输提供了框架。缩写：BM：骨髓；DC：树突状细胞；DN：双重否定；FRT：女性生殖道；FSC：前向散射；NK：自然杀手；PALN：主动脉旁淋巴结；SSC：侧向散射；Treg：调节性T细胞。