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.
Eidukaite
Audrone
A
Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Vilnius, Lithuania. elza@takas.lt
Siaurys
Almantas
A
Tamosiunas
Vytas
V
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