The cytokine profile and the levels of immunomodulatory proteins in patients with uterine proliferative diseases

Objective — to study the blood levels of some cytokines, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and their synthesis-modulating lactoferrin (LF) and α 2 -macroglobulin (α 2 -MG) in women with uterine myoma, adenomyosis, and their concurrence to assess their possible role in the pathogenesis of proliferative uterine diseases. Subject and methods. The serum levels of some cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8), VEGF, and their synthesis-modulating proteins (LF and α2-MG) in 14 women with myoma of the corpus uteri, in 10 with adenomyosis, and in 17 with a concurrence of myoma and adenomyosis were studied. A control group consisted of 25 apparently healthy women. Results. A solid-phase enzyme immunoassay and a quantitative rocket immunoelectrophoretic assay were used in the investigation. There were significantly increased cytokine levels and decreased α 2 -MG concentrations in monoabnormality; the levels of IL-8 and VEGF were particularly high in adenomyosis and myoma, respectively. LF levels were increased in myoma only. The patients with comorbidity (uterine myoma and adenomyosis) had the same changes in the cytokine profile and LF levels as those with uterine myoma, and those in the concentration of VEGF were seen in the patients with adenomyosis. However, the content of α2-MG and IL-6 in patients with a concurrence of myoma and andometriosis differed from that in monoabnormality. Conclusion. Thus, with the similarities in the site and clinical manifestations of the diseases, the changes in the cytokine profile and the levels of the immunomodulatory proteins differ in adenomyosis and myoma and there are a number of characteristic dissimilarities in the presence of the comorbidity, suggesting severer defects in the immune system. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.