Chemotaxis of macrophages by a peritoneal fluid protein in women with endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To expand on a preliminary study comparing the chemotactic potential of peritoneal fluid (PF) from women with and without endometriosis and to characterize this activity via immunosuppressants and a protease.


METHODS
Case control study.


METHODS
University center.


METHODS
Fifty-nine women with endometriosis and 44 without, undergoing laparoscopy.


METHODS
Collection of PF, endometriotic, ovarian, and endometrial biopsies at laparoscopy.


METHODS
Chemotactic activity of PF was tested via an in vitro assay alone and in the presence of immunosuppressants cyclosporin A (CSA), FK506, rapamycin, and type XVII-b(S-V8) protease and in media incubated with endometriotic, ovarian, or endometrial biopsy specimens.


RESULTS
The PF from women with endometriosis had significantly greater chemotactic activity (cells per well, mean +/- SD) than without endometriosis (142 +/- 39 versus 48 +/- 17). Cyclosporin A significantly inhibited the chemotactic activity of the endometriotic PF; FK506 and rapamycin did not. Incubation of media with endometriotic tissue, but not ovarian or endometrial, for > or = 7 hours displayed chemotactic activity. Protease type XVII-b(S-V8) added to endometriotic PF inhibited this chemotactic activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Peritoneal fluid from patients with endometriosis contains a protein chemotactic factor attracting inflammatory cells into the peritoneal cavity, possibly secreted by endometriotic implants. This chemotactic factor may be a member of the immunophilin family because of its inhibition profile.
Weil
S J
SJ
University of Pennsylvania, Division of Reproductive Biology, Philadelphia, USA.
Wang
S
S
Perez
M C
MC
Lyttle
C R
CR
D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002633:Chemotaxis; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology*; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011090:Polyenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D011506:Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000494:pharmacology; D020123:Sirolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011090:Polyenes; D011506:Proteins; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; D016572:Cyclosporine; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C028344:glutamyl endopeptidase; D020123:Sirolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus