Elevated proinflammatory cytokines in postmenopausal women is considered as one of the causes increasing the incidence of chronic inflammatory diseases. However, the details of postmenopausal immune changes have not yet been fully revealed. Thus, we investigated age-related immune changes in women and compared immune responses in postmenopausal and reproductive-age women.

A total of 34 postmenopausal women and 91 reproductive-age women were included in the study. After isolating peripheral blood mononuclear cells, analysis of immunophenotypes and intracellular cytokine profiles were done. The proportion of natural killer (NK) cells was significantly higher, and the ratio of TNF-α- to IL-10-producing CD3+CD4 + T cells (Th1 to Th2) and the ratio of Th17 cells to CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells (Th17 to Treg) were higher, in postmenopausal women than in reproductive-age women. The Treg cell proportion was negatively correlated with the Th1 and Th2 cell proportions in reproductive-age women but not in postmenopausal women. As age increased, the proportion of Tregs was increased in reproductive-age women (r = 0.302, p = 0.004), whereas the proportion of Th1 cells was increased in postmenopausal women (r = 0.466, p = 0.005). FSH levels showed a positive correlation with Fopx3+ T cell and Treg cell (p = 0.04, 0.053, respectively), whereas Th17/Treg ratio and Th1 cell showed negative correlation with FSH.(p = 0.045, 0.024, respectively). In conclusion, postmenopausal women have higher proinflammatory immune statuses, as demonstrated by increased proportions of NK, Th1, and Th17 cells, altered correlations among NK and T cell subsets, and compromised balances between effector T cell subsets.

绝经后妇女的促炎细胞因子升高被认为是增加慢性炎症性疾病发病率的原因之一。然而，绝经后免疫变化的细节尚未完全揭示。因此，我们调查了女性与年龄相关的免疫变化，并比较了绝经后和育龄女性的免疫反应。

该研究共纳入 34 名绝经后妇女和 91 名育龄妇女。分离外周血单个核细胞后，进行免疫表型和细胞内细胞因子谱分析。自然杀伤 (NK) 细胞的比例显着升高，产生 TNF-α- 与产生 IL-10 的 CD3+CD4+ T 细胞的比例（Th1 与 Th2）和 Th17 细胞与 CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ 的比例显着升高绝经后妇女的调节性 T (Treg) 细胞（Th17 至 Treg）高于育龄妇女。Treg 细胞比例与育龄妇女的 Th1 和 Th2 细胞比例呈负相关，而绝经后妇女则不相关。随着年龄的增长，育龄妇女的 Tregs 比例增加（r = 0.302，p = 0.004），而绝经后妇女的 Th1 细胞比例增加（r = 0. 466，p = 0.005）。FSH 水平与 Fopx3+ T 细胞和 Treg 细胞呈正相关（分别为 p = 0.04、0.053），而 Th17/Treg 比值和 Th1 细胞与 FSH 呈负相关（分别为 p = 0.045、0.024）。总之，绝经后妇女具有更高的促炎免疫状态，表现为 NK、Th1 和 Th17 细胞比例增加、NK 和 T 细胞亚群之间的相关性改变以及效应 T 细胞亚群之间的平衡受损。