Effect of Nrf2 on Phenotype Changes of Macrophages in the Anterior Vaginal Wall of Women With Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Objective The aim of this study was to observe the effect of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) on the phenotype changes of macrophages in the anterior vaginal wall of patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Methods The tissues of the anterior vaginal wall of the control group (n = 30) and POP groups (n = 60) were collected during operation. The expressions of Nrf2, iNOS (representative factor of M1 macrophages), and CD206 (representative factor of M2 macrophages) were determined by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot. Morphological changes and collagen distribution of the anterior vaginal wall were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson trichrome staining. Results Compared with the control group, the expression levels of Nrf2 and CD206 protein in the anterior vaginal wall tissues of the POP groups were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and were negatively proportional to the degree of prolapse (P < 0.05). The expression of iNOS was significantly increased and was directly proportional to the degree of prolapse (P < 0.05). Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson trichrome staining showed that the collagen fibers are more sparsely arranged and disordered in the POP group than the control. Conclusions In patients with POP, the expression of antioxidant factor Nrf2 is reduced in the vaginal anterior wall tissues and the antioxidant capacity is weakened, leading to the blocked polarization of macrophages and the accumulation of a large number of M1 macrophages in the tissue, affecting the occurrence and development of POP.