Functional changes of immune cells - signal of immune tolerance of the ectopic lesions in endometriosis?

Abstract Research Question What is the potential role of immune cells and their inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis, development and establishment of endometriosis (EM)? Design Peritoneal fluid (PF) from 59 women (43 patients with EM and 16 controls) who had undergone laparoscopic surgery were analyzed. Changes in innate and adaptive immune cells population, as well as, cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors expression were measured by flow cytometry, Luminex Technology and ELISA. Results The frequencies of the innate and adaptive immune cells were not different between nonendometriosis and EM patients. IL-1β, IL-1RN, IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17α, FGF2, G-CSF, MCP-1, MIP-1α, TNF-α were significantly increased in the PF of the women with EM when compared with the controls. A correlation between IL-2, MCP-1, MIP-1α, TNF-α and EM severity were noted. Furthermore, the concentration of neopterin, a possible biomarker for this disease, in EM patients was increased compared to controls. Conclusions Although their numbers remained unchanged, functional activity of immune cells seemed to be reduced. We suggest that a shift between TH cytokine profile occurs and our data indicate that is TH1 over TH2 response by the cytokines increased in the severe affect group of patients with EM (TNF-α and IL-2).