Peritoneal fluid concentrations of the cytokine RANTES correlate with the severity of endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
Endometriosis is a common gynecologic disorder in which the concentration and activation of peritoneal macrophages are increased. The goal of this study was to quantify pelvic fluid concentrations of two cytokines involved in macrophage recruitment and activation.


METHODS
A case-control study of women undergoing pelvic surgery was conducted by collecting peritoneal fluid from 12 women without evidence of endometriosis (controls), 12 with mild, and 12 with moderate to severe endometriosis. Concentrations of RANTES and interferon gamma, soluble cytokines known to recruit and activate macrophages, were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.


RESULTS
Pelvic fluid concentrations of RANTES are elevated in women with endometriosis and the levels correlate with the severity of disease. By contrast, concentrations of interferon gamma appear unaffected by the presence of or severity of endometriosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate that RANTES, a cytokine with potent chemotactic activity for human monocytes, may play an important role in the recruitment of peritoneal macrophages in endometriosis.
Khorram
O
O
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0132.
Taylor
R N
RN
Ryan
I P
IP
Schall
T J
TJ
Landers
D V
DV
D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000032:analysis*
D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D016207:Cytokines; D008222:Lymphokines; D007371:Interferon-gamma