title: High concentrations of the vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-8 in ovarian endometriomata.
abstract: Patients with endometriosis are characterized by the ability of the endometrium to implant and by the peritoneal response to the tissue; angiogenic factors may play a significant role in the aetiology of endometriosis supporting the implantation of ectopic endometrial cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a mitogen, morphogen and chemoactractant for endothelial cells and, in vivo, it is a powerful mediator for vessel permeability. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a chemoatractant for neutrophils and is a potent angiogenic factor. Women (n = 20) with ovarian endometriomata and 10 women with follicular cysts were enrolled in this study to investigate the role of VEGF and IL-8 in the development and maintenance of ovarian endometriomata. Cystic fluids were collected by laparoscopy, immediately centrifuged and stored until the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed. The VEGF and IL-8 concentrations were found to be significantly higher in the fluids of the ovarian endometriomata than in those of the follicular cysts of controls (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001 respectively); in addition, a significant inverse correlation between the VEGF cystic fluid concentrations and the diameter of the endometriotic adnexal masses was found (r = -0.56, P = 0.01). The evidence that the high concentrations of VEGF and IL-8 are present in the ovarian endometriomata indicates that angiogenesis could be a specific event both for the progression and maintenance of such cysts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine and Child Development, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa, Via Roma 56, 56126 Pisa,Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fasciani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Ambrogio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bocci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Genazzani
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Artini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005497:Follicular Cyst / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors