Murine post-thymectomy autoimmune oophoritis is associated with reduced NK cell number and impaired NK cell activity, and in these respects the model is similar to premature ovarian failure in women. Research to define the relationship between NK cell abnormalities and the mechanism of ovarian failure in this model might lend insight into the pathogenesis of premature ovarian failure in women.
Our findings suggest that immune-regulatory regions outside the H-2 locus play an important role in determining susceptibility to murine post-thymectomy autoimmune oophoritis. This is in accord with our previous findings in women that showed no association between MHC and premature ovarian failure. Thus, in this respect this model is similar to human autoimmune ovarian failure. This suggests that the non-MHC genes conveying susceptibility to autoimmune oophoritis in mice might represent similar predisposing genes for premature ovarian failure in women.
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