Increased production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by peritoneal fluid mononuclear cells induced by 60-kDa heat shock protein in women with minimal to mild endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to examine the role of Hsp60, a 60-kDa stress-responsive protein (hsp60) with potent immunostimulatory properties, in the pathophysiology of endometriosis. We investigated the response of peritoneal fluid mononuclear cells (PFMCs) to hsp60 to identify differences in PFMCs between women with and without endometriosis.


METHODS
PFMCs from women with or without endometriosis were incubated with hsp60 in vitro. The release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
The rapid secretion of TNF-alpha was observed following the exposure of PFMCs to hsp60. PFMCs from women with minimal to mild endometriosis produced greater amounts of TNF-alpha in response to hsp60 stimulation than levels seen in cells from women without endometriosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Hsp60 may play a role in the activation of peritoneal immunity in patients with minimal to mild endometriosis.
Noda
Takahiro
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. nodanoda@ob-gy.med.tohoku.ac.jp
Murakami
Takashi
T
Terada
Yukihiro
Y
Yaegashi
Nobuo
N
Okamura
Kunihiro
K
D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects
D018834:Chaperonin 60; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha