title: Imbalance in cytokines from interleukin-1 family - role in pathogenesis of endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-18 and interleukin-1 converting enzyme (ICE) are involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peritoneal fluid (PF) was obtained from 85 women with and without endometriosis. Peritoneal macrophages were cultured and the culture media collected. IL-1beta, IL-18 and ICE levels were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of IL-1beta and ICE in PF of women with endometriosis were higher than those in the control group. However, PF level of IL-18 was significantly lower in the study group than in the controls. Higher secretion of IL-1beta by peritoneal macrophages and lower IL-18 and ICE in endometriosis patients than in control were observed. Following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, the macrophages secreted more IL-1beta, IL-18 and ICE in all groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results pointed to impairment of the secretion of the IL-1 cytokine family in endometriosis. Invalid IL-1beta and IL-18 maturation by ICE may be an important pathogenic factor in endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Serology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. sikoraj@poczta.onet.pl
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sikora
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mielczarek-Palacz
authors.forename: Zdzislawa
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kondera-Anasz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D020170:Caspase 1