Use of knockout transgenic mice in the study of endometriosis: insights from mice lacking beta(2)-microglobulin and interleukin-12p40.
OBJECTIVE
To test the possibility of using transgenic knockout mice in the study of endometriosis and to investigate specific immunologic aspects of the disease.


METHODS
Experimental blinded study.


METHODS
Academic research center.


METHODS
Thirty-two mice with experimentally induced endometriosis.


METHODS
Endometriosis was induced in 8 beta(2)-microglobulin-deficient BALB/c mice and 7 wild-type BALB/c controls. Similarly, endometriosis was induced in 8 interleukin-12-deficient C57BL/6 mice and in 9 wild-type C57BL/6 controls.


METHODS
Weight and surface area of endometriotic lesions.


RESULTS
Total weight and surface area of endometriotic lesions was markedly lower in beta(2)-microglobulin-deficient BALB/c mice than in wild-type BALB/c controls. A slight but statistically insignificant increase in total weight and surface area of lesions was observed in interleukin-12-deficient C57BL/6 mice compared to wild-type C57BL/6 controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Knockout transgenic mice can be used successfully for the study of endometriosis; however, in these animals, the redundancy of the immunologic cytokine-mediated regulatory mechanisms may lead to compensation from the remaining genome. Results from beta(2)-microglobulin-deficient mice support the critical role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Somigliana
E
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Viganò
P
P
Filardo
P
P
Candiani
M
M
Vignali
M
M
Panina-Bordignon
P
P
D000818:Animals; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009929:Organ Size; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D018664:Interleukin-12