title: Increased killer inhibitory receptor KIR2DL1 expression among natural killer cells in women with pelvic endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the host immunologic response to endometriosis in terms of killer inhibitory receptor (KIR) expression by natural killer (NK) cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study of immunologic markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared cells from Japanese women with laparoscopically diagnosed endometriosis to cells from 40 women with other laparoscopic diagnoses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral venous blood sampling and laparoscopic peritoneal fluid collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Flow cytometry was used to assess expression of KIR by NK cells in the cell samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of cells that expressed KIR2DL1 among NK (KIR2DL1(+)NK) cells in peritoneal fluid and peripheral blood was significantly higher in women with endometriosis than in controls. The proportion of KIR2DL1(+)NK cells in peripheral blood NK cells before and 1 month after laparoscopic surgery did not differ significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proportion of KIR2DL1(+)NK cells was increased in peritoneal fluid and peripheral blood in women with endometriosis; this difference is probably related to NK cell suppression in endometriosis. This increase in KIR2DL1 expression by NK cells may represent a risk factor in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kochi Medical School, Oko, Nankoku, Kochi, Japan 783-8505. maedan@med.kochi-ms.ac.jp
authors.forename: Nagamasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Chiaki
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Izumiya
authors.forename: Yorito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hiroyoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oguri
authors.forename: Tomoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kusume
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukaya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D054340:Receptors, KIR; D054342:Receptors, KIR2DL1; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D054340:Receptors, KIR; D054342:Receptors, KIR2DL1