Effect of danazol on the immunocompetent cells in the eutopic endometrium in patients with endometriosis: a multicenter cooperative study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of danazol on immunocompetent cells, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) expression, and adhesion molecules in the eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis.


METHODS
Antigens were localized immunohistochemically in the endometria, before treatment and during treatment (2 months later).


METHODS
Ten patients with laparoscopically proven endometriosis who consented to participate in this study were treated with 400 mg/d of danazol for 4 months. Forty-two infertile patients without endometriosis or adenomyosis served as controls.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemical analysis revealed significantly increased expression of the T cell subsets, macrophages, adhesion molecules, and HLA antigens in eutopic endometrium in patients with endometriosis compared with the infertile group. Treatment with danazol reduced the number of cells in T cell subsets, adhesion molecules, or HLA antigen expression, especially of gamma delta T cells, to 39.5% of the pretreatment value in patients with endometriosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Danazol had an immunomodulatory effect on the autoimmune response in endometrium associated with endometriosis.
Ota
H
H
Akita University School of Medicine, Japan.
Igarashi
S
S
Hayakawa
M
M
Matsui
T
T
Tanaka
H
H
Tanaka
T
T
D000328:Adult; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D003613:Danazol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D006680:HLA Antigens; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D003613:Danazol