Advances in the cellular immunological pathogenesis and related treatment of primary ovarian insufficiency

To describe the immunological mechanism in the pathogenesis of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), summarize the alternations in humoral immunity and cellular immunity in patients with POI, and review some associated treatment methods based on these immunological changes.

Symptoms of patients with POI are similar to that of menopause, such as amenorrhea, anovulation, early depletion of the ovarian reserve, decreased estrogen, and elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Therefore, most previous research has focused on finding ovary-related antibodies. In recent years, advances in the field of immunology have increased our understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of POI, which includes changed levels of cytokines and immunological cells especially Tregs cells and Th17 cells. Based on these advances, many associatedtreatment methods including DHEA supplementation, Traditional Chinese Medicine, adoptive transfer of Treg cells and stem cell transplantation have become research hotspots.

This review focuses on the current literature regarding alterations in cellular immunity in patients with POI, as well as the role in the pathogenesis of POI, and summarizes treatment methods based on these immunological alternations, which have a great application potential in the clinical practice.