Biology subjects

Zutautas, K. B.

Publications and source records attributed to Zutautas, K. B..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Endometriosis patient-derived small extracellular vesicles carry unique immune, proteomic and lipidomic signatures associated with mild and severe endometriosis

Endometriosis (EM) is a heterogeneous, gynecological inflammatory disease affecting over 200 million individuals worldwide, yet the mechanisms underlying lesion establishment, progression, and recurrence remain incompletely understood. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) mediate intercellular communication through the transfer of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids reflective of their cellular origin; however, stage- and tissue-specific sEV signatures remain poorly defined. Here, we characterized the molecular and functional landscape of EM-derived sEVs across disease stages and biological sources. sEVs isolated from eutopic endometrium, ectopic lesions, peritoneal fluid, and plasma from mild- and severe-stage EM patients and healthy controls were analyzed by surface marker profiling, proteomics, lipidomics, and integrated multi-omics, with functional effects assessed in human uterine microvascular endothelial cells. sEV composition varied by disease stage and sample type, with EM lesion-derived sEVs demonstrating stage-dependent loss of epithelial-associated markers and enrichment of immune-associated signatures, while EM plasma-derived sEVs exhibited altered adhesion- and platelet-associated profiles. Integrated multi-omics identified coordinated programs associated with immune adaptation, extracellular matrix organization, epithelial remodeling, vascular signaling, oxidative stress, and metabolic adaptation. Functionally, sEVs derived from severe endometriotic lesions exhibited enhanced uptake and mitochondrial localization in endothelial cells and promoted angiogenic activity. Our findings establish sEVs as dynamic mediators of EM disease progression and demonstrate that integrated sEV profiling provides a framework for understanding EM heterogeneity and identifying candidate biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2026

An investigation of the IL-23/Th17 axis and transcriptomic profiles of T helper subsets in endometriosis

Endometriosis (EMS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by ectopic endometrial-like tissue growth and immune dysregulation. Aberrant T cell responses are implicated in EMS pathogenesis, however, functional reprogramming of T helper (Th) subsets across disease stages remain unclear. We profiled systemic and local immune mediators (cytokines/chemokines) and performed bulk RNA sequencing to comprehensively characterize Th1, Th1/17, and Th17 cell subsets from EMS patients and healthy controls. Across patient plasma, peritoneal fluid (PF), and matched eutopic and ectopic tissues, we observed systemic and local cytokine/chemokine alterations, including elevated IL-6 (plasma), FLT-3L and G-CSF (eutopic), and IL-1RA and IL-23 (p40; PF) in severe-stage EMS. Flow cytometry depicted elevated pathogenic Th17 cells in patient PF compared to matched non-pathogenic Th17 and Treg cell subsets. Additionally, circulating Th17 cells were increased in patients with mild (stages I-II) relative to severe (stages III-IV) EMS. RNA sequencing revealed extensive Th subset reprogramming in EMS, most predominately in Th17 cells (2,220 DEGs). Collectively, we reveal significant immune remodeling in EMS and highlight a distinct, aberrant Th17 cell phenotype. Results support repurposing of IL-23- and IL-17-targeted therapeutics, already effectively implemented in other chronic inflammatory diseases, to broaden therapeutic options for EMS and associated comorbidities.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2024

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin contributes to endometriotic lesion proliferation and disease-associated inflammation.

Endometriosis is a chronic disorder in which endometrial-like tissue presents outside the uterus. Patients with endometriosis have been shown to exhibit aberrant immune responses within the lesion microenvironment and in circulation which contribute to the development of endometriosis. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an alarmin involved in cell proliferation and the induction of Th2 inflammation in various diseases, such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, pancreatic and breast cancer. Recent studies have detected TSLP within endometriotic lesions and shown that its concentrations are elevated in the peritoneal fluid of patients compared to controls. However, its role in disease pathophysiology remains unclear. Here, we compared TSLP expression in endometriotic lesions to matched patient endometrium and control endometrium samples. We also assessed its effect on the proliferation and apoptosis of human endometriosis-representative cell lines, as well as on lesion development and inflammation in a mouse model of the disease. We demonstrated that TSLP expression was elevated in the stroma of patient endometriotic lesions compared to control endometrial samples. In cell lines, TSLP treatment reduced the apoptosis of endometrial stromal cells and promoted the proliferation of THP-I cells. In mice induced with endometriosis, TSLP treatment induced a Th2 immune response within the lesion microenvironment, and led to TSLP receptor modulation in macrophages, dendritic cells, and CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, treatment increased murine endometriotic lesion proliferation. Overall, these results suggest that TSLP modulates the endometriotic lesion microenvironment and promotes a Th2 immune response that could support lesion development. KEY POINTSO_LITSLP is overexpressed in the stroma of human endometriotic lesions; C_LIO_LITSLP promotes the survival of human endometrial stromal and THP-I cell lines; C_LIO_LITSLP induces Th2 inflammation and lesion proliferation. C_LI

immunology↗

bioRxiv2023

The dysregulated IL-23/TH17 axis in endometriosis pathophysiology

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease where endometrial-like tissue grows ectopically, resulting in pelvic pain and infertility. Interleukin (IL)-23 is established as a key contributor in the development and differentiation of a subset of T cells known as T-helper 17 (TH17) cells, driving TH17 cells towards a pathogenic profile. In a variety of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, TH17 cells secrete proinflammatory cytokines including IL-17, contributing to the disease pathophysiology. Our studies and others have implicated IL-17 and TH17 cell dysregulation in endometriosis, which is associated with disease severity. Here we address whether IL-23 driven TH17 cells contribute to the cardinal features of lesion proliferation, vascularization, and inflammation in endometriosis using patient samples, representative cell lines, and our established mouse model of endometriosis. Our results indicate significantly dysregulated expression of key genes in the IL-23/TH17 axis in patient ectopic and eutopic endometrial samples and increased IL-23 protein in patient plasma compared to healthy controls. In-vitro studies using primary human TH cells determined that IL-23 cocktail treatment significantly increased the frequency of pathogenic TH17 cells. Similarly, treatment with recombinant human (rh)IL-23 on cell lines (12Z, EECC, HUVEC, and hESC) representative of the endometriotic lesion microenvironment led to a significant increase in cytokines and growth factors known to play a role in lesion establishment and maintenance. In a syngeneic mouse model of endometriosis, treatment with recombinant mouse (rm)IL-23 led to significant alterations in numbers of myeloid and T cell subsets in peritoneal fluid and significantly increased numbers of giant cells within the lesion. Endometriotic lesions from rmIL-23 mice did not reveal significant alterations in proliferation and vascularization, although trends of increased proliferation and vascularization were observed. Collectively, these findings provide insights into the impact of the IL-23/TH17 axis on local immune dysfunction and broadly on the pathophysiology of endometriosis.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2023

Endocannabinoids and their receptors modulate endometriosis pathogenesis and immune response

Endometriosis (EM), characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, is the leading cause of chronic pelvic pain and infertility in females of reproductive age. Despite its high prevalence, the molecular mechanisms underlying EM pathogenesis remain poorly understood. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is known to influence several cardinal features of this complex disease including pain, vascularization, and overall lesion survival, but the exact mechanisms are not known. Utilizing CNR1 knockout (k/o), CNR2 k/o and wild type (WT) mouse models of EM, we reveal contributions of ECS and these receptors in disease initiation, progression, and immune modulation. Particularly, we identified EM-specific T cell dysfunction in the CNR2 k/o mouse model of EM. We also demonstrate the impact of decidualization- induced changes on ECS components, and the unique disease-associated transcriptional landscape of ECS components in EM. Imaging Mass Cytometry (IMC) analysis revealed distinct features of the microenvironment between CNR1, CNR2, and WT genotypes in the presence or absence of decidualization. This study, for the first time provides an in-depth analysis of the involvement of the ECS in EM pathogenesis and lays the foundation for the development of novel therapeutic interventions to alleviate the burden of this debilitating condition.

immunology↗