title: The pattern of cytokine mRNA expression in ovarian endometriomata.
abstract: Intraovarian cytokines play a pivotal role in the normal growth and development of the ovarian follicle. The purpose of this study was to investigate the pattern of cytokine mRNA expression in ovarian endometriomata. A total of 10 patients with histologically confirmed endometriomata undergoing surgery formed the study group while nine patients undergoing sterilization with no evidence of a cyst in the ovary formed the control group. Biopsies of the ovary were obtained at surgery and stored in liquid nitrogen until processed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction amplification to identify the presence of mRNA for interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). IL-6 and IL-10 mRNA were expressed by nine and seven patients respectively in the endometriosis group compared with three and one patients in the control group; this difference was significant (P < 0.05). IL-1 alpha mRNA was expressed by seven of 10 patients with endometriosis but by only one of the control group; this was again significantly different (P < 0.04). Ovarian IL-2 and IL-4 mRNA were not expressed in either group. There was no significant difference in the expression of IL-8, IL-13, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha mRNA in the two groups. These findings suggest that abnormal local expression of certain cytokines may contribute to the development of endometriomata.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jessop Hospital for Women, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Odukoya
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ajjan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Weetman
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Cooke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; D007378:Interleukins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma