Changes in the T-helper cytokine profile and in lymphocyte activation at the systemic and local levels in women with endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate regulatory cytokine synthesis and lymphocyte activation in the peripheral blood and endometrial tissue of patients with endometriosis.


METHODS
Controlled clinical study.


METHODS
Medical center.


METHODS
Fifteen women with laparoscopically diagnosed endometriosis; 20 gynecologically healthy women with previously documented fertility (control group).


METHODS
Peripheral venous blood sampling; laparoscopic collection of ectopic and matched eutopic endometrium.


METHODS
Messenger RNA (mRNA) for interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, and IL-10 expression in peripheral and endometrium lymphocytes was assessed by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; intracellular synthesis of these cytokines and lymphocyte phenotype profile were established by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Both mRNA expression and intracellular synthesis of IL-4 and IL-10 were sharply increased in peripheral lymphocytes. The same changes were observed for IL-4 in ectopic endometrium of women with endometriosis. Simultaneously, elevation of the amount of pan-B cells, CD20+CD5+ B-1 cells, and activated HLA-DR+CD20+ B lymphocytes was observed in endometriosis lesions. Only an enhanced amount of B lymphocytes was seen in eutopic endometrium.


CONCLUSIONS
Endometriosis development is accompanied by the activation of a T-helper type 2 immune response at the systemic and local levels. Our results support the hypothesis regarding the autoimmune nature of endometriosis and can explain the high level of autoantibody production in patients with endometriosis.
Antsiferova
Yulia S
YS
Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, State Research Institute of Maternity and Childhood, Ivanovo, Russia. ivniimid@ivnet.ru
Sotnikova
Natalia Yu
NY
Posiseeva
Lyubov V
LV
Shor
Artur L
AL
D000328:Adult; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4