Peritoneal fluid macrophages in endometriosis: correlation between the expression of estrogen receptors and inflammation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of estrogen receptors (ERs) and inflammatory cytokines in macrophages obtained from peritoneal fluid (PF) of women with endometriosis.


METHODS
Comparative immunocytochemical study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Thirty women with endometriosis and 22 controls.


METHODS
The PF samples were collected at laparoscopy.


METHODS
The expression of ERalpha, ERbeta, differentiation markers (CD68, NCL-MACRO, HAM56), and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha], IL-6) in PF macrophages was determined.


RESULTS
The expression of CD68, NCL-MACRO, HAM56, TNFalpha, IL-6, and IL-1beta was significantly higher in PF macrophages obtained from women with endometriosis than in controls. The ERalpha and ERbeta had significantly higher expression in macrophages of women with endometriosis than in controls. A positive correlation was observed between the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta both in women with and without endometriosis. The ERalpha expression was positively correlated with the expression of inflammatory cytokines in women with endometriosis but not in controls; ERbeta expression was correlated to the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a correlation between the expression of ERbeta and proinflammatory cytokines both in women with and without endometriosis. The expression of ERalpha correlates with cytokine production selectively in women with endometriosis but not in controls.
Montagna
Paola
P
Laboratory and Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Capellino
Silvia
S
Villaggio
Barbara
B
Remorgida
Valentino
V
Ragni
Nicola
N
Cutolo
Maurizio
M
Ferrero
Simone
S
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000032:analysis*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D016207:Cytokines; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C096893:HAM-56 antibody; C508600:IL6 protein, human