Altered expression of interleukin-18 in the ectopic and eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
This study has investigated the expression of interleukin (IL)-18 in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of women with endometriosis and the role of IL-18 on the pathogenesis of endometriosis.


METHODS
Endometriotic tissue specimens and endometrium specimens were obtained from patients with endometriosis. IL-18 protein was determined by immunohistochemical analysis. Expression levels of IL-18 mRNA were analyzed by reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR.


RESULTS
IL-18 was detected in the glandular epithelial and stromal cells of eutopic and ectopic endometrium. RT-PCR analysis showed that endometrial IL-18 mRNA expression levels were significantly higher at the secretory phase than the proliferative phase in normal women, but not in patients with endometriosis. IL-18 mRNA expression levels were lower in the ectopic endometrium than in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis. IL-18 mRNA levels in both ectopic and eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis were lower than in endometrium of women without endometriosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Ectopic and eutopic endometrial IL-18 was down-regulated in women with endometriosis, suggesting that IL-18 might play a pathogenic role in the formation of endometriosis.
Luo
Qiong
Q
Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China.
Ning
Weixuan
W
Wu
Yanting
Y
Zhu
Xiaoming
X
Jin
Fan
F
Sheng
Jianzhong
J
Huang
Hefeng
H
D000328:Adult; D002828:Choristoma / Q000276:immunology*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
D020382:Interleukin-18; D012333:RNA, Messenger