Autoimmunity to endometrium and ovary in endometriosis.

Mathur S, Subbi Mathur, S Mathur, Peress MR, M R Peress, H. Oliver Williamson, Williamson HO, H O Williamson, Youmans CD, C. D. YOUMANS, Maney SA, S. A. MANEY, A. Julian Garvin, A J Garvin, Garvin AJ, P. F. Rust, Rust PF, H. Hugh Fudenberg, Fudenberg HH, H H Fudenberg
Clinical and Experimental Immunology · 1982 · vol. 50(2) , pp. 259–66 · PMID:6759000 · W96067388
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Endometriosis patients showed significantly higher serum antibody titers to endometrium, ovary, theca cells, and granulosa cells, with elevated granulosa cell antibodies in cervical secretions, suggesting autoimmunity to these tissues.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-10 · read from full text ⓘ

This study measured antibody titres against whole ovary, ovarian theca and granulosa cells, and endometrium using passive haemagglutination and immunofluorescence in sera and in cervical/vaginal secretions from 13 women with endometriosis, compared with sera from 15 normal non-pregnant controls. In patients, serum antibody titres were significantly higher than controls for endometrium and multiple ovarian components, and cervical secretions showed elevated titres to granulosa cells, with immunofluorescence of biopsied endometrial tissue and sera indicating the antibodies were primarily IgG and IgA; vaginal secretions were similar between groups. A key limitation is the small sample size and the cross-sectional design, which constrains conclusions about causality. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it reports elevated circulating and genital-tract autoantibodies to endometrium and ovarian tissues in women with endometriosis.

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Abstract

Antibody titres to whole ovary, theca cells, granulosa cells and endometrium were determined by passive haemagglutination and immunofluorescence assays in sera and in cervical and vaginal secretions from 13 patients with endometriosis. Antibody titres to endometrium (mean log2 +/- s.e.m., 7.08 +/- 0.80; P less than 0.0001), ovary (3.58 +/- 0.87; P = 0.0092), theca cells (4.42 +/- 0.73; P less than 0.0001) and granulosa cells (3.33 +/- 0.63; P = 0.0024) were significantly higher in the patients' sera than in sera from 15 normal non-pregnant females. Antibody titres to granulosa cells were elevated (7.97 +/- 1.46; P = 0.0424) in their cervical secretions. Antibody titres to all tissues tested were similar in vaginal secretions of patients and controls. Immunofluorescent antibody assay of biopsied endometrial tissue and sera from the patients revealed the antibodies to be primarily IgG and IgA. The results suggest that autoantibodies to endometrium and ovary are present in patients with endometriosis.
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Abstract Antibody titres to whole ovary, theca cells, granulosa cells and endometrium were determined by passive haemagglutination and immunofluorescence assays in sera and in cervical and vaginal secretions from 13 patients with endometriosis. Antibody titres to endometrium (mean log2 +/- s.e.m., 7.08 +/- 0.80; P less than 0.0001), ovary (3.58 +/- 0.87; P = 0.0092), theca cells (4.42 +/- 0.73; P less than 0.0001) and granulosa cells (3.33 +/- 0.63; P = 0.0024) were significantly higher in the patients' sera than in sera from 15 normal non-pregnant females. Antibody titres to granulosa cells were elevated (7.97 +/- 1.46; P = 0.0424) in their cervical secretions. Antibody titres to all tissues tested were similar in vaginal secretions of patients and controls. Immunofluorescent antibody assay of biopsied endometrial tissue and sera from the patients revealed the antibodies to be primarily IgG and IgA. 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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Autoantibodies Endometriosis Endometrium Ovary Uterine Neoplasms Adult Autoantibodies Endometriosis Endometrium Female Fluorescent Antibody Technique Granulosa Cells Granulosa Cells Hemagglutination Tests Humans Immunoglobulin A Immunoglobulin A Immunoglobulin G Immunoglobulin G Immunoglobulin M

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