Immunology of endometriosis

Paul Dmowski W, W. Paul Dmowski, Braun DP, Donald P. Braun
Best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology · 2004 · vol. 18(2) , pp. 245–263 · doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2004.02.001 · PMID:15157641 · W2059664345
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This paper reviews the immunological mechanisms underlying endometriosis, focusing on the roles of various immune cells, cytokines, and signaling pathways in its development and progression.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is a benign gynecologic disorder characterized by the ectopic growth of misplaced endometrial cells. A unifying hypothesis to explain endometriosis has not been elucidated as yet but numerous investigations have implicated disturbances in the immune response as fundamental to its etiology and pathogenesis. Clearly, the immune system is involved in endometriosis. It is not clear, however, whether and to what extent this involvement is a primary response leading to the initiation, promotion, and progression of the disease or a secondary response to the ectopic endometrial growth in an attempt to restore homeostasis. Thus, although numerous studies have shown alterations in cell-mediated and humoral immunity in subjects with endometriosis, the importance of these changes remains obscure. This review considers the past two decades of investigation of immune function changes in women with endometriosis with the expectation that this information will ultimately provide the basis for developing new approaches to patient management.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Apoptosis Autoantibodies Autoantibodies Cytokines Cytokines Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Growth Substances Growth Substances Humans Immune Tolerance Immunity, Cellular

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (100)

Cited by (50)

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License: CC0 · commercial use OK