Detection of interleukin-12 and tumor necrosis factor-α in peritoneal fluid and serum of patients with endometriosis

Aim: To study the changes of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)in peritoneal fluid and serum of patients with endometriosis. Methods:IL-12 and TNF-α levels in peritoneal fluid and serum of 26 patients with endometriosis and 16 control cases were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: IL-12 levels in peritoneal fluid and serum of endometriosis group were lower than those in control group. IL-12 levels of both groups in peritoneal fluid were lower than those in serum (P0.01). IL-12 in peritoneal fluid ((19.56±0.83)ng·L -1) and IL-12 in serum ((23.62±0.59)ng·L -1) of stage Ⅲ,Ⅳ in endometriosis group were lower than IL-12 in peritoneal fluid ((23.59±0.56)ng·L -1) and in serum ((28.71±0.54)ng·L -1) of stageⅠ,Ⅱ(both P0.01). TNF-α levels in peritoneal fluid and serum of endometriosis group were higher than those in control group. TNF-α levels of both groups in peritoneal fluid were higher than those in serum (P0.01). TNF-α in peritoneal fluid ((60.24±0.96)ng·L -1) and TNF-α in serum ((49.90±1.36)ng·L -1) of stage Ⅲ,Ⅳ in endometriosis group were higher than TNF-α in peritoneal fluid ((53.37±0.89)ng·L -1) and TNF-α in serum ((42.20±0.99)ng·L -1) of stageⅠ,Ⅱ(both P 0.01).Conclusion: IL-12 and TNF-α play an important role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. The detection of IL-12 and TNF-α will be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.