The TH22‐mediated IL‐22 deficiency associated with premature ovarian insufficiency

Research question Is deficiency of IL‐22 associated with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)? Design Levels of IL‐22 and IL‐22BP, IL‐22‐producing T cells, and IL22RA1/IL10R2 expression were measured and compared among 29 patients with POI, 42 with precursor stage of POI (pre‐POI) and 46 control women. Correlation of serum IL‐22 and IL‐22+CD4+T subsets with ovarian reserve markers were further analyzed. Results IL‐22 levels in serum significantly differed among control women and patients with pre‐POI and POI, with the lowest concentrations in POI group (p = .019). Significant reduction of peripheral CD4+IL‐22+T cells was observed in patients with POI (p = .010), which mainly contributed by decrease of CD4+IL‐22+IL‐17− TH22 cells (p = .012) but not TH17 cells (p = .125). Levels of serum IL‐22 and IL‐22‐producing CD4+T subsets were significantly correlated with ovarian reserve markers, including AMH, bilateral AFC, follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), and E2 (p