Autoantibodies to markers of oxidative stress are elevated in women with endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To measure autoantibodies that recognize oxidatively modified proteins in the sera of women with surgically proven endometriosis.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Tertiary care academic medical center.


METHODS
Women undergoing surgery for endometriosis or tubal ligation.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Serum and peritoneal fluid autoantibody titers to malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and lipid peroxide-modified rabbit serum albumin determined by ELISA. Correlation of autoantibody titers with revised American Fertility Society staging classification, symptoms, and morphologic type of endometriosis.


RESULTS
Mean (+/-SEM) serum autoantibody titers (in optical density units) to the three antigens were as follows: [1] lipid peroxide-modified rabbit serum albumin, 0.49 +/- 0.12 units in the patients with endometriosis and 0.2 +/- 0.02 units in the controls; [2] oxidized low-density lipoprotein, 0.22 +/- 0.005 units in the patients with endometriosis and 0.18 +/- 0.006 units in the controls; and [3] malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein, 0.21 +/- 0.005 units in the patients with endometriosis and 0.16 +/- 0.003 units in the controls. There was no correlation between autoantibody titers and revised American Fertility Society stage, symptoms, or morphologic type of endometriosis. Peritoneal fluid did not contain autoantibodies to any of the three antigens.


CONCLUSIONS
Autoantibodies to markers of oxidative stress were significantly increased in women with endometriosis. These findings strongly support our data demonstrating that women with endometriosis have enhanced oxidative stress.
Shanti
A
A
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
Santanam
N
N
Morales
A J
AJ
Parthasarathy
S
S
Murphy
A A
AA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000737:chemistry; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000737:chemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D012709:Serum Albumin; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D008315:Malondialdehyde