The changes of interleukin-6 in peritoneal fluid and T lymphocyte subpopulation in peripheral blood of patients with mild endometriosis-induced infertility

Objective To explore the immune mechanism of endometriosis induced infertility.Methods The infertile women with mild endometriosis were chosen and those with polycystic ovarian syndrome and unidentified causes as controls. The levels of IL 6 in peritoneal fluid were determined with ELISA, and the changes of T lymphocyte subpopulation in peripheral blood was also determined with flow cytometry technique. Results IL 6 level was obviously increased in the infertile women with mild endometriosis compared with the controls. CD4 + T cell number in peripheral blood was increased while CD8 + T cell number had no evident changes. Conclusion The peritoneal immune cells were in the state of hyper activated activation and there was dysimmunity in the infertile women with mild endometriosis. It suggests that IL 6 may play a role in endometriosis induced infertility.