title: Implications of immune dysfunction on endometriosis associated infertility.
abstract: Endometriosis is a complex, inflammatory disease that affects 6-10% of reproductive-aged women. Almost half of the women with endometriosis experience infertility. Despite the excessive prevalence, the pathogenesis of endometriosis and its associated infertility is unknown and a cure is not available. While many theories have been suggested to link endometriosis and infertility, a consensus among investigators has not emerged. In this extensive review of the literature as well as research from our laboratory, we provide potential insights into the role of immune dysfunction in endometriosis associated infertility. We discuss the implication of the peritoneal inflammatory microenvironment on various factors that contribute to infertility such as hormonal imbalance, oxidative stress and how these could further lead to poor oocyte, sperm and embryo quality, impaired receptivity of the endometrium and implantation failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jessica E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Soo Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Stephany P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Monsanto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Kasra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khalaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Madhuri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Chandrakant
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tayade
mesh_terms: D060833:Cellular Microenvironment; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000276:immunology*
keywords: cytokines; endometriosis; infertility; inflammation; oxidative stress