Iron storage is significantly increased in peritoneal macrophages of endometriosis patients and correlates with iron overload in peritoneal fluid

Jean-Christophe Lousse, Lousse JC, Jean‐Christophe Lousse, Sylvie Defrère, Defrère S, Van Langendonckt A, Anne Van Langendonckt, Jérémie Gras, Reinaldo González-Ramos, González-Ramos R, Sébastien Colette, Colette S, Jacques Donnez, Donnez J
Fertility and sterility · 2008 · vol. 91(5) , pp. 1668–1675 · doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.02.103 · PMID:18396284 · W2165789728
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Iron storage within peritoneal macrophages is elevated in endometriosis patients, and this increase is linked to higher iron concentrations in peritoneal fluid.

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Abstract

ObjectiveTo further investigate peritoneal iron disruption in endometriosis by studying iron storage in peritoneal macrophages of patients with endometriosis compared with controls.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingAcademic gynecology research unit in a university hospital.Patient(s)Fifty patients undergoing laparoscopy.Intervention(s)Collection of peritoneal fluid samples (N = 50) from patients with (n = 27) and without (n = 23) endometriosis undergoing laparoscopy.Main outcome measure(s)Quantification of peritoneal macrophage ferritin by immunocytochemical staining and immunodensitometry and measurement of peritoneal iron, transferrin, ferritin, and prohepcidin concentrations.Result(s)The optical density of peritoneal macrophage ferritin staining was statistically significantly higher in endometriosis patients than in controls. Higher iron concentrations, transferrin saturations, and ferritin concentrations were also detected in case of endometriosis. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the optical density of macrophage ferritin staining and peritoneal iron concentrations in endometriosis and control patients.Conclusion(s)Iron storage is statistically significantly increased in peritoneal macrophages of patients with endometriosis and correlates with iron overload in peritoneal fluid. The potential implications of iron accumulation in peritoneal macrophages in case of endometriosis are discussed.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Ascitic Fluid Endometriosis Iron Iron Overload Macrophages, Peritoneal Adult Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides Ascitic Fluid Cross-Sectional Studies Endometriosis Female Ferritins Ferritins Hepcidins Humans Iron Iron Overload Macrophages, Peritoneal Middle Aged

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