title: Effect of helixor A on natural killer cell activity in endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  NK cells are one of the major immune cells in endometriosis pathogenesis. While previous clinical studies have shown that helixor A to be an effective treatment for endometriosis, little is known about its mechanism of action, or its relationship with immune cells. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of helixor A on Natural killer cell (NK cell) cytotoxicity in endometriosis
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed an experimental study. Samples of peritoneal fluid were obtained from January 2011 to December 2011 from 50 women with endometriosis and 50 women with other benign ovarian cysts (control). Peritoneal fluid of normal control group and endometriosis group was collected during laparoscopy. Baseline cytotoxicity levels of NK cells were measured with the peritoneal fluid of control group and endometriosis group. Next, cytotoxicity of NK cells was evaluated before and after treatment with helixor A. NK-cell activity was determined based upon the expression of CD107a, as an activation marker.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NK cells cytotoxicity was 79.38±2.13% in control cells, 75.55±2.89% in the control peritoneal fluid, 69.59±4.96% in endometriosis stage I/II endometriosis, and 63.88±5.75% in stage III/IV endometriosis. A significant difference in cytotoxicity was observed between the control cells and stage III/IV endometriosis, consistent with a significant decrease in the cytotoxicity of NK cells in advanced stages of endometriosis; these levels increased significantly after treatment with helixor A; 78.30% vs. 86.40% (p=0.003) in stage I/II endometriosis, and 73.67% vs. 84.54% (p=0.024) in stage III/IV. The percentage of cells expressing CD107a was increased significantly in each group after helixor A treatment; 0.59% vs. 1.10% (p=0.002) in stage I/II endometriosis, and 0.79% vs. 1.40% (p=0.014) in stage III/IV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Helixor A directly influenced NK-cell cytotoxicity through direct induction of CD107a expression. Our results open new role of helixor A as an imune modulation therapy, or in combination with hormonal agents, for the treatment of endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In-Cheul
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Jeung
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Youn-Jee
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Boah
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: So-Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Yen
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Hee
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Ok
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Lew
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jang-Heub
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mee-Ran
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D052118:Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D028182:Viscum album / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D052118:Lysosomal-Associated Membrane Protein 1; D010936:Plant Extracts; C000602513:helixor A
keywords: Cytotoxicity; Endometriosis; Helixor; Natural Killer cells