Progress of Immunologic Mechanism in Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common gynecological diseases,the incidence rate in women of reproductive age is about 1/7.It seriously impacts women′ s life and harm to their physical and mental health. After years of researches,the pathogenesis of endometriosis may be related with many factors,but remains unclear. Retrograde menstruation is widely accepted by most people,but it can not explain why most of women have menstrual blood reflux,but only a small number of women with endometriosis,and the present study reports that the immunologic mechanism may be related to the abnormality. Research shows that,the abnormal number and(or) dysfunction of natural killer cells,T lymphocytes, macrophages,mast cells and NKT cells may lead to ectopic endometrial planting,abnormal expression of integrin αvβ3、ICAM-1、E-cadherin and other adhesion molecules may be involved in the positioning and abnormal adhesion of EMs,and because of the abnormal immune mechanism,the activated immune cells release IL,TNF-α,VEGF and a series of cytokines,which further aggravate the disorder of immune mechanism. All those form a vicious circle,lead to the proliferation and development of EMs. The studies also show that EMs may be an autoimmune disease. This paper reviews the research progression of immunologic mechanisms in endometriosis.