Autoimmunity in Endometriosis: Relevance to Infertility

Mathur SP, S P Mathur, Subbi Mathur
American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) · 2000 · vol. 44(2) , pp. 89–95 · doi:10.1111/j.8755-8920.2000.440204.x · PMID:10994636 · W2032121928
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This study found that elevated antibodies to endometrial transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein in women with endometriosis correlate with the infertility often associated with the condition.

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Abstract

PROBLEM: Endometriosis is a complicated multi-factorial disease. Genetic and immunologic factors play a key role in its pathophysiology. We were the first to describe endometrial and ovarian autoimmunity in women with endometriosis in 1981. METHODS OF STUDY: ELISA and Western blot analysis. It is accepted that women with endometriosis have autoimmunity to endometrial, ovarian and nuclear antigens. We have now established that: 1. The endometrial autoantigens to which the endometriosis patients have autoimmune reactions are endometrial transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein. 2. Levels of antibodies to both these proteins are specifically elevated in women with endometriosis, thus making them important candidates for developing an endometrial antibody assay for a non-invasive diagnosis of endometriosis. 3. Levels of transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein are significantly elevated in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis. 4. Antibodies to transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein also inhibit in vitro sperm motility. CONCLUSION: These data strongly suggest the possibility of endometrial autoantibodies playing an important role in the infertility often associated with endometriosis.

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Condition tags

endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Autoimmunity Endometriosis Infertility, Female alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein Antibodies Antibodies Blood Proteins Blood Proteins Blood Proteins Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Infertility, Female Transferrin Transferrin Transferrin

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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