{
    "abstract": "Canine pyometra is a suppurative uterine infection associated with immune dysregulation. This study investigated the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and associated factors in the pus accumulation within the canine uterus. Sixteen client-owned intact bitches, eight diagnosed with pyometra and the other eight healthy animals undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy, were enrolled. Blood samples were collected into ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-coated tubes for flow cytometry. Tissue samples were obtained after ovariohysterectomy and used to examine localization of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-2R\u03b1 as key regulators of Treg functions. Gene expression was analyzed by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results of flow cytometry analysis revealed a significant increase in the population of Tregs in the uterine tissue and their corresponding decrease in the peripheral blood. This shift is likely reflective of the recruitment of Tregs from the peripheral blood to the decidua in pyometra. There was a marked upregulation in the expression of IL-2 in the uterine tissue. There was dysregulation in the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines produced by Tregs (such as IL-10) and pro-inflammatory factors secreted by effector T cells (such as ROR\u03b3t and IL-17A), which gave a deeper insight into the mechanism underlying the immune dysfunction in canine pyometra. Taken together, these observations elucidate the dynamic changes in Tregs and related factors during canine uterine pyometra, thus providing a new perspective on the equilibrium of the uterine immune microenvironment.",
    "authors": [
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Immunology, Guizhou Medicine University, 631115, Guiyang, PR China; Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, SE-75123, Uppsala, Sweden.",
            "firstname": "Zhiqiang",
            "initials": "Z",
            "lastname": "Li"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Chengdu Normal University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Far Eastern Federal University, Russky Island Vladivostok, 690922, Russia.",
            "firstname": "Wei",
            "initials": "W",
            "lastname": "Zhao"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Chengdu Normal University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.",
            "firstname": "Xin",
            "initials": "X",
            "lastname": "Deng"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 06070, Ankara, Turkey.",
            "firstname": "Murat Onur",
            "initials": "MO",
            "lastname": "Yazl\u0131k"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Genetics, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, 31060, Hatay, Turkey.",
            "firstname": "H\u00fcseyin",
            "initials": "H",
            "lastname": "\u00d6zkan"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Chengdu Normal University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.",
            "firstname": "Shiyi",
            "initials": "S",
            "lastname": "Liu"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Chengdu Normal University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.",
            "firstname": "Ling",
            "initials": "L",
            "lastname": "Mei"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Zhi Pet Animal Hospital, 611830, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.",
            "firstname": "Shangfeng",
            "initials": "S",
            "lastname": "Li"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: jiasui.zhan@slu.se.",
            "firstname": "Jiasui",
            "initials": "J",
            "lastname": "Zhan"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Chengdu Normal University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China; Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden; Zhi Pet Animal Hospital, 611830, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China. Electronic address: binhong.hu@slu.se.",
            "firstname": "Binhong",
            "initials": "B",
            "lastname": "Hu"
        }
    ],
    "conclusions": null,
    "copyrights": "Copyright \u00a9 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.",
    "doi": "10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117445",
    "journal": "Theriogenology",
    "keywords": [
        "Canine pyometra",
        "FOXP3+ Tregs",
        "Flow cytometry",
        "Immune dysregulation"
    ],
    "methods": null,
    "publication_date": "2025-04-21",
    "pubmed_id": "40253750",
    "results": null,
    "title": "FOXP3+ T cells and immune dysregulation in canine pyometra.",
    "xml": "<Element 'PubmedArticle' at 0x788502a36890>"
}