title: Cytokine patterns differ seasonally between women with and without uterine leiomyomata.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Uterine leiomyomata are the most common reproductive tumor in women, and their cause is not known.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma samples from 155 women (74 with and 81 without ultrasound-confirmed leiomyoma) from a new study of leiomyoma risk factors in the Detroit, Michigan area, were examined for any cross-sectional associations between commonly examined cytokines and leiomyoma presence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Associations varied by season of sample collection defined a priori as winter (December-February) and non-winter seasons. In the winter months, interleukin (IL)13 and IL17 were positively and IP10 was inversely associated with having a leiomyoma. In the non-winter samples, VEGF, G-CSF, and IP10 were positively associated and Monocyte chemotactic protein-1, IL13, and IL17 were inversely associated with having a leiomyoma. Associations were not changed by adjustment for age or BMI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that new insight into leiomyoma formation may be acquired through investigation of the immune system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Ganesa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wegienka
authors.forename: Donna Day
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Baird
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Kimberley J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Woodcroft
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Havstad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008824:Michigan; D012621:Seasons; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: chemokines; cytokines; growth factors; inflammation; leiomyoma