[Features of immunohistochemical markers expression in cervical epithelium under thyroid dysfunction]

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Gynecology
• Oncology

Background:

• Thyroid dysfunction, particularly hypothyroidism, can affect various bodily systems.
• Cervical mucosa alterations are observed in patients with thyroid disorders.
• Understanding these changes is crucial for early detection and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate morphological and molecular marker variations in cervical mucosa epithelium in patients with thyroid dysfunction.
• To compare these changes between patients with hypothyroidism treated with L-thyroxine, untreated hypothyroidism, and euthyroid controls.
• To identify specific molecular markers associated with cervical abnormalities under hypothyroid conditions.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of cervical mucosa samples from three groups: treated hypothyroidism (Group A), untreated hypothyroidism (Group B), and euthyroid controls.
• Immunohistochemical staining using mono- and polyclonal antibodies for Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).
• Evaluation of epithelial changes including proliferation, hyperplasia without atypia, and atrophic epithelium, alongside adenomyosis (AM) foci.

Main Results:

• Increased expression of TSH, EGFR, and VEGF was observed in pathological cervical mucosa foci.
• Expression levels of these markers increased from the proliferation stage to hyperplasia without atypia.
• Adenomyosis foci were significantly more frequent in the untreated hypothyroidism group (Group B) compared to the treated group (Group A) and controls.

Conclusions:

• Hypothyroidism is associated with significant morphological and molecular changes in the cervical epithelium.
• Elevated TSH, EGFR, and VEGF expression in cervical mucosa indicates biological progression of changes under hypothyroid conditions.
• Untreated hypothyroidism correlates with a higher incidence of adenomyosis foci, suggesting increased risk for cervical abnormalities.