Functional changes of immune cells: signal of immune tolerance of the ectopic lesions in endometriosis?

Voltolini Velho R, Renata Voltolini Velho, Nicolette Halben, Halben N, Chekerov R, Radoslav Chekerov, Jacqueline Keye, Keye J, Plendl J, Johanna Plendl, Jalid Sehouli, Sehouli J, Sylvia Mechsner
Reproductive BioMedicine Online · 2021 · vol. 43(2) , pp. 319–328 · doi:10.1016/j.rbmo.2021.04.012 · PMID:34103260 · W3157632717
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This study investigated functional changes in immune cells within ectopic lesions of endometriosis to understand their role in immune tolerance.

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Abstract

Research questionWhat is the potential role of immune cells and their inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis, development and establishment of endometriosis?DesignPeritoneal fluid from 59 women (43 with endometriosis and 16 controls) who had undergone laparoscopic surgery was analysed. Changes in the population of innate and adaptive immune cells, cytokines, chemokines and growth factor expression were measured by flow cytometry, Luminex Technology and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsNo differences were found in the frequencies of the innate and adaptive immune cells between women with and without endometriosis. In the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis, IL-1β, IL-1RN, IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-17α, FGF2, G-CSF, MCP-1, MIP-1α and TNF-α were significantly increased compared with controls. A correlation between IL-2, MCP-1, MIP-1α, TNF-α and the severity of endometriosis was observed. The concentration of neopterin, a possible biomarker for this disease, was increased in women with endometriosis compared with controls.ConclusionsThe functional activity of immune cells seemed to be reduced despite their numbers remaining unchanged. The data indicate that a shift of TH cytokine profile occurs, which increases the TH1-TH2 ratio. This is driven by the increased levels of the cytokines (TNF-α and IL-2) in women with severe endometriosis.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Immune Tolerance Peritoneal Diseases Adolescent Adult Ascitic Fluid Ascitic Fluid Ascitic Fluid Ascitic Fluid Case-Control Studies Chemokines Chemokines Cytokines Cytokines Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Immune Tolerance

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