Targeting the Immune Network in Endometriosis: A Comprehensive Review of Pathogenesis, Immunomodulation, and Emerging Therapies

Yukun Mo, M Li, Wei Ye, Zhuozhen Jiang, Xian-Hua Lin, Luo Kewang
In: Pharmaceuticals · 2026 · vol. 19(7) , pp. 1074 · doi:10.3390/ph19071074 · W7168158594
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-07, 2026-07-15 ⓘ

This review synthesizes evidence on immune cell dysregulation driving endometriosis pathogenesis and highlights emerging immunotherapies targeting macrophages, NK cells, dendritic cells, neutrophils, immune checkpoints, and cytokines as potential non-hormonal treatments.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the ectopic growth of endometrial-like tissue and is closely associated with pain and infertility. This review summarizes current evidence on immune dysregulation and emerging immunomodulatory therapies in endometriosis. Relevant clinical and mechanistic studies were identified through a structured literature review and qualitatively synthesized. Increasing evidence suggests that immune dysregulation plays a critical role in disease pathogenesis. Within the immune microenvironment, innate and adaptive immune cells—including macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, mast cells, T cells, and B cells—collectively promote inflammation, angiogenesis, fibrosis, and immune evasion. Emerging immunotherapeutic strategies, including macrophage repolarization, NK cell restoration, dendritic cell modulation, neutrophil extracellular traps inhibition, immune checkpoint blockade, and cytokine/chemokine targeting, have shown promising preclinical and early clinical potential. However, disease heterogeneity, reproductive safety concerns, and the lack of validated biomarkers remain major barriers to clinical translation, highlighting the potential of immunomodulatory therapies as future non-hormonal treatment strategies.

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