INFLAMMAGING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF GYNECOLOGICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY. STARTING POINT

BACKGROUND: It is known that the aging of the immune system in individuals of both sexes is a natural process of ontogenesis, and in women it is apparently identified with the entry into postmenopause and a decrease in ovarian function. AIM: To study immune blood parameters in peri- and early postmenopausal women. METHODS: The single-center, cross-sectional study included 50 women aged 45 to 59 years in the phase of reproductive aging, peri- and early postmenopause. Major subpopulations of blood cells such as cytotoxic T lymphocytes, T helper cells, NK cells, B lymphocytes, classical, non-classical and intermediate monocytes, as well as pro- and anti-inflammatory markers on the isolated monocyte populations were analyzed using flow cytometry. A multiplex assay was used to detect 27 plasma cytokines. RESULTS: Reproductive aging in women during the transition stage of reproductive aging from peri- to postmenopause is accompanied by an increase in the monocyte-associated inflammatory reaction and humoral response, which is expressed in the redistribution of the monocyte population towards non-classical monocytes (p = 0.034) and an increase in the level of B-lymphocytes by 1.8 times (p=0.023), as well as a significant (p=0.022) increase in the level of MCP-1, a marker associated with inflammation. CONCLUSION: Considering the pro-inflammatory nature of changes associated with immune aging in women, it seems preferable to start “early” menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) during perimenopause.