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

Citation neighborhood (2-hop)

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. Outer rings show 2-hop neighbours — papers reached through the immediate citers/citees. [ collapse to 1-hop ]

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