title: Endometriosis and infertility: a multi-cytokine imbalance versus ovulation, fertilization and early embryo development.
abstract: Endometriosis is tightly linked to infertility which is manifested at very early or more advanced stages of the gestational cycle. Alteration on the production of a great number of cytokines/growth factors can be accused for problems on ovum maturation, fertilization or implantation. Yet, macroscopically these stages are characterized by the inability of conception. A closer look of the cytokinic profile during the conceptional and early gestational cycle could, however, localize the problem and allow a therapeutic approach. In this commentary, going through the cytokine requirement during ovulation, fertilization and the early stages of pregnancy, it became possible to specifically define the harmful endometriosis-induced cytokines for each of the conceptional and early gestational stages. Thus, regulating the levels of interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis-alpha will facilitate ovulation and fertilization, whereas adjusting the levels of interleukin-1beta and colony stimulating gactor-1 will facilitate implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vassiliadis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Relakis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papageorgiou
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Athanassakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010060:Ovulation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines