title: Endometrial polyps in infertile patients: do high concentrations of interferon-gamma play a role?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) both in serum and in endometrial biopsy samples from infertile patients with endometrial polyps, to investigate the molecular background involved in the formation of endometrial polyps and its potential role in infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic infertility clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one infertile women affected by endometrial polyposis represented the study group, and 21 homogeneous women without endometrial polyps were enrolled as control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood and endometrial biopsy collection from infertile women with and without endometrial polyps.
  
  
  METHODS
  IFN-γ-positive cells were analyzed and counted as spot-forming colonies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IFN-γ levels were significantly higher both in serum and in tissue biopsies of women with endometrial polyps.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High concentrations of IFN-γ were detected in infertile patients with endometrial polyps. The possible role of an inflammatory factor in a proliferative pathology represents a novel insight into the understanding of endometrial polyposis and its relationship with infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Urology and Reproductive Medicine, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy. antmollo@unina.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mollo
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stile
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alviggi
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Granata
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Placido
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perrella
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: d'Antonio
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cicinelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology*; D058501:Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000276:immunology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D007558:Italy; D016014:Linear Models; D011127:Polyps / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007371:Interferon-gamma