Vasoactive intestinal peptide is upregulated in women with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain

Vladimir Bourlev, Christian Moberg, N. A. Ilyasova, Natalia Ilyasova, Eva Davey, Theodora Kunovac Kallak, Matts Olovsson
American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) · 2018 · vol. 80(3) , pp. e12857 · doi:10.1111/aji.12857 · PMID:29675846 · W2802629021
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Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) transcript and protein levels were increased in women with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain, along with higher microvessel density and IL-6 concentrations.

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Abstract

PROBLEM: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) causes compromised the quality of life in women with endometriosis and is often attributed to local inflammation and ingrowth of nerve fibers. In this pilot study, we aimed to investigate whether the inflammation-related vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and interleukin (IL)-6 were increased in affected patients. METHOD OF STUDY: Endometrial and endometriotic tissue biopsy specimens, and serum and peritoneal fluid (PF) samples, were obtained from 85 endometriosis patients and 53 controls. VIP and IL-6 analysis and measurement of microvessel density in tissue were performed using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, RT-qPCR, and ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with controls, VIP transcript and protein levels were increased in endometrium from endometriosis patients and further elevated in patients with CPP. In addition, microvessel density, a measurement of angiogenic activity, was increased in the endometrium and in endometriosis lesions in the same subset of patients. Serum and PF levels of VIP and IL-6 were higher in women with endometriosis and CPP compared with endometriosis patients who reported no chronic pain. CONCLUSION: Vasoactive intestinal peptide is upregulated in endometriosis patients reporting chronic pain. Increased microvessel density in tissue and peritoneal fluid concentrations of IL-6 indicate an elevated inflammation in the pelvic microenvironment of these patients.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715mesh:D017699endometriosischronic_pelvic_pain

MeSH descriptors

Endometrium Interleukin-6 Microvessels Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Adult Ascitic Fluid Ascitic Fluid Chronic Disease Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Female Humans Inflammation Interleukin-6 Microvessels Pelvic Pain Pilot Projects Quality of Life Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

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