Aberrant expression of CD95 and CD69 molecules among CD56 cells in women with endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
Activated lymphocytes can be eliminated by Fas/Fas ligand (FasL)-induced cell death. Endometrial cells express FasL. The aim of our study was to determine the expression of CD56+ cells (natural killer and natural killer T cells) Fas antigen CD95 and the early activation molecule CD69 in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis.


METHODS
Two-colour flow cytometry was used.


RESULTS
In the early stages of endometriosis, more CD56+ cells expressed CD69 and CD95 molecules when compared with the control group. However, in case of severe endometriosis the percentage of CD95+CD56+ cells in peritoneal fluid was similar to that of the control group, but the expression of CD69 molecules remained high.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of Fas/FasL mechanisms, in the initial stages of endometriosis the activated peritoneal fluid CD56+ cells can be intensively eliminated, thus providing conditions for the survival of ectopic endometrial cells and the development of the disease.
Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Vilnius, Lithuania. elza@takas.lt
Audrone
A
Eidukaite
Almantas
A
Siaurys
Vytas
V
Tamosiunas
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D019014:fas Receptor; D000099192:CD69 Antigens