Macrophages and nerve fibres in peritoneal endometriosis

Lu Vinh Phuc Tran, Tran LV, Lang Tran, Tokushige N, Natsuko Tokushige, Marina Berbic, Berbic M, Markham R, Robert Markham, I.S. Fraser, Ian S. Fraser, Fraser Is
Human Reproduction · 2008 · vol. 24(4) , pp. 835–841 · doi:10.1093/humrep/den483 · PMID:19136478 · W2143724594
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Macrophages were significantly elevated in both endometriotic lesions and surrounding peritoneum of women with endometriosis compared to controls, with increased nerve fibers found alongside these macrophages.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is considered to be an inflammatory disease, and macrophages are the most numerous immune cells in endometriotic lesions. However, the mechanisms underlying the elevation of macrophages and their role in the pathogenesis and manifestations of endometriosis still remain unclear. METHODS: The number of macrophages stained for CD68 in endometriotic lesions (n = 24) and in peritoneum distant from the lesions (n = 14) from women with endometriosis was compared with the number of macrophages in normal peritoneum from women without endometriosis (n = 18). Peritoneal lesions were also double-stained for CD68 and protein gene product 9.5 to study the relationship between macrophages and nerve fibres. RESULTS: The densities of macrophages in peritoneal endometriotic lesions and unaffected peritoneum from women with endometriosis were both significantly higher than that in normal peritoneum from women without endometriosis (P < 0.001). More nerve fibres were also found in the areas where increased numbers of macrophages were identified. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant elevation of macrophages in both normal peritoneum and peritoneal lesions from women with endometriosis compared with normal peritoneum from women without endometriosis. These cells may well play roles in the growth and development of endometriotic lesions and in the generation of pain through interaction with nerve fibres.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Macrophages Nerve Fibers Peritoneal Diseases Adult Antigens, CD Antigens, CD Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic CD68 Molecule Cell Count Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Immunohistochemistry Macrophages Macrophages Nerve Fibers

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