Aberrant expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and killer inhibitory receptors induces immune tolerance in women with pelvic endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate host immunologic response to endometriosis in terms of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 expression by macrophages and killer cell inhibitory receptor (KIR) expression by natural killer (NK) cells.


METHODS
Case-control study of immunologic markers.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-eight Japanese women with endometriosis. Control subjects were 26 women without endometriosis. Diagnoses were made at laparoscopy.


METHODS
Venipuncture and laparoscopic peritoneal fluid collection.


METHODS
ICAM-1 expression by macrophages and KIR expression by NK cells, measured by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
In women with endometriosis, expression of ICAM-1 by peritoneal macrophages was significantly lower and expression of KIR by NK cells in peritoneal fluid and peripheral blood was significantly higher than in control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Properties of macrophages and NK cells in women with endometriosis promote immunotolerance to implanted tissue in the peritoneal environment. Increased KIR(+)NK cells in peripheral blood may represent a risk factor for endometriosis.
Maeda
Nagamasa
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kochi Medical School, Kohasu, Oko, Nankoku, Kochi, Japan. maedan@med.kochi-ms.ac.jp
Izumiya
Chiaki
C
Oguri
Hiroyoshi
H
Kusume
Tomoaki
T
Yamamoto
Yorito
Y
Fukaya
Takao
T
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D009000:Monocytes; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000032:analysis*; D054340:Receptors, KIR; D013601:T-Lymphocytes
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D054340:Receptors, KIR; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1