Immunohistochemical characterization of leucocyte subpopulations in endometriotic lesions

D J Oosterlynck, Oosterlynck DJ, F J Cornillie, Freddy Cornillie, Cornillie FJ, Waer M, Mark Waer, M Waer, Philippe R. Koninckx, P R Koninckx, Koninckx PR
Archives of gynecology and obstetrics · 1993 · vol. 253(4) , pp. 197–206 · doi:10.1007/bf02766646 · PMID:8161254 · W2005527784
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06+body, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

This study characterized leucocyte subpopulations in endometriotic lesions, finding T lymphocytes and macrophages to be most frequent, with few B cells and no natural killer cells of certain types.

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

This study immunohistochemically characterized leukocyte subpopulations in endometriotic lesions from 15 biopsies excised by CO2 laser, using an avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique and a panel of monoclonal antibodies for multiple immune cell markers. Common antigen (anti-Hle-1) positive cells were found in all lesions and were the most frequent stromal leukocytes, with T lymphocytes being the most frequent subpopulation alongside macrophages, and a CD4/CD8 ratio of 0.78. Anti-leu-7 and/or anti-leu-11 positive cells were not detected, while anti-leu-19 positive cells and macrophages were present, and very few B cells were observed; the authors explicitly note that the possible importance of these intra-endometriotic leukocytes for endometriosis pathophysiology will be discussed. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it specifically maps and quantifies leukocyte subpopulations within endometriotic lesions by immunohistochemistry.

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Abstract

Leucocyte subpopulations localized in endometriotic lesions were analysed using the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique on 15 biopsies obtained by CO2 laser excision. Qualitative assessment of the leucocyte subpopulations was performed with a panel of antihuman monoclonal antibodies for leucocytes (anti-Hle-1), T-lymphocytes (anti-leu-4), T helper/inducer (anti-leu-3a), T suppressor/cytotoxic (anti-leu-2a), B cells (anti-leu-12), HLA-DR (anti-HLA-DR), macrophages (anti-leu-M3) and natural killer cells (anti-leu-7, anti-leu-11; anti-leu-19). Leucocyte common antigen (anti-Hle-1)-positive cells were present in all lesions and were the most frequent stromal leucocytes. Of these, the T lymphocytes are the most frequent subpopulation together with the macrophages. The CD4/CD8 ratio was 0.78. No anti-leu-7 and/or anti-leu-11-positive cells were found although a substantial amount of anti-leu-19-positive cells were found in each lesion. There were very few B cells present in the ectopic endometrial lesions. In conclusion, an important amount of cytotoxic lymphocytes (anti-leu-2a -and anti-leu-19-positive cells) and macrophages (anti-leu-M3) were found in the endometriotic lesions. The possible importance of these intraendometriotic leucocytes for the pathophysiology of endometriosis will be discussed.
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Summary Leucocyte subpopulations localized in endometriotic lesions were analysed using the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique on 15 biopsies obtained by CO2 laser excision. Qualitative assessment of the leucocyte subpopulations was performed with a panel of antihuman monoclonal antibodies for leucocytes (anti-Hle-1), T-lymphocytes (anti-leu-4), T helper/inducer (anti-leu-3a), T suppressor/cytotoxic (anti-leu-2a), B cells (anti-leu-12), HLA-DR (anti-HLA-DR), macrophages (anti-leu-M3) and natural killer cells (anti-leu-7, anti-leu-11; anti-leu-19). Leucocyte common antigen (anti-Hle-1)-positive cells were present in all lesions and were the most frequent stromal leucocytes. Of these, the T lymphocytes are the most frequent subpopulation together with the macrophages. The CD4/CD8 ratio was 0.78. No anti-leu-7 and/or anti-leu-11-positive cells were found although a substantial amount of anti-leu-19-positive cells were found in each lesion. There were very few B cells present in the ectopic endometrial lesions. In conclusion, an important amount of cytotoxic lymphocytes (anti-leu-2a-and anti-leu-19-positive cells) and macrophages (anti-leu-M3) were found in the endometriotic lesions. The possible importance of these intra-endometriotic leucocytes for the pathophysiology of endometriosis will be discussed. Similar content being viewed by others References Bulmer JN, Lunny DP, Hagin SV (1988) Immunohistochemical characterization of stromal leucocytes in nonpregnant human endometrium. Am J Reprod Immunol Microbiol 17:83–90 Bulmer JN, Morrison L, Longfellow M, Ritson A, Pace D (1991) Granulated lymphocytes in human endometrium: histochemical and immunohistochemical studies. Hum Reprod 6:791–798 Cornillie FJ, Oosterlynck DJ, Lauweryns JM, Koninckx PR (1990) Deeply infiltrating pelvic endometriosis: histology and clinical significance. Fertil Steril 53:978–983 Dmowski WP, Steele RW, Baker GF (1981) Deficient cellular immunity in endometriosis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 141:377–383 Garzetti GG, Ciavattini A, Provinciali M, Fabris N, Cignitti M, Romanini C (1993) Natural killer cell activity in endometriosis: correlation between serum estradiol levels and cytotoxicity. Obstet Gynecol 81:665–668 Kamat BR, Isaacson PG (1987) The immunocytochemical distribution of leucocytic subpopulations in human endometrium. Am J Pathol 127:66–73 King A, Wellings V, Gardner L, Loke YW (1989) Immunocytochemical characterization of the unusual large granular lymphocytes in human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle. Hum Immunol 24:195–205 Lanier LL, Le AM, Civin CI, Loken MR, Phillips JH (1986) The relationship of CD16 (Leu-11) and Leu-19 (NKH-1) antigen expression on human peripheral blood NK cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes. J Immunology 136:4480–4486 Morris H, Edwards J, Tiltman A, Emms M (1985) Endometrial lymphoid tissue: an immunohistological study. J Clin Pathol 38:644–652 Oosterlynck DJ, Cornillie FJ, Waer M, Vandeputte M, Koninckx PR (1991) Women with endometriosis show a defect in natural killer activity resulting in a decreased cytotoxicity to autologous endometrium. Fertil Steril 56:45–51 Oosterlynck DJ, Meuleman C, Waer M, Vandeputte M, Koninckx PR (1992) The natural killer activity of peritoneal fluid lymphocytes is decreased in women with endometriosis. Fertil Steril 58:290–295 Ritson A, Bulmer JN (1989) Isolation and functional studies of granulated lymphocytes in first trimester human decidua. Clin Exp Immunol 77:263–268 Schweppe KW, Wynn RM, Beller FK (1984) Ultrastructural comparison of endometriotic implants and eutopic endometrium. Am J Obstet Gynecol 148:1024–1039 Sen DK, Fox H (1967) The lymphoid tissue of the endometrium. Gynecologia 163:371–378 Tanaka E, Sendo F, Kawagoe S, Hiroi M (1992) Decreased natural killer cell activity in women with endometriosis. Gynecol Obstet Invest 34:27–30 The American Fertility Society. Revised American Fertility Society Classification of Endometriosis. (1985) Fertil Steril 43:351–352 Vigano P, Vercellini P, Di Blasio AM, Colombo A, Candiani GB, Vignali M (1991) Deficient antiendometrium lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in patients with endometriosis. Fertil Steril 56:894–899 Author information Authors and Affiliations Additional information This work was supported by the Belgian Fund for Scientific Research, Brussels, Belgium Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Oosterlynck, D.J., Cornillie, F.J., Waer, M. et al. Immunohistochemical characterization of leucocyte subpopulations in endometriotic lesions. Arch Gynecol Obstet 253, 197–206 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02766646 Received: Accepted: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02766646

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

B-Lymphocyte Subsets Endometriosis T-Lymphocyte Subsets Uterine Diseases Antibodies, Monoclonal Avidin Biopsy Biotin B-Lymphocyte Subsets B-Lymphocyte Subsets CD4-CD8 Ratio Endometriosis Evaluation Studies as Topic Female Humans Immunoenzyme Techniques Laparoscopy Severity of Illness Index T-Lymphocyte Subsets T-Lymphocyte Subsets

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