Local Epidermal Growth Factor Production in Women with Endometriosis

The aim of the study was to elucidate the role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in pathogenesis of endometriosis at different stages of disease. The level of EGF in peritoneal fluid (PF) of fertile and infertile women with endometriosis and in pooled supernatants of 24-h cultures of peritoneal macrophages was assessed by ELISA method. It was found that in fertile women with early stages of disease EGF level in PF did not differ from that in control group, but at the advanced stages of endometriosis the significant elevation of EGF concentration in PF was observed. The spontaneous production of EGF by peritoneal macrophages in this group was diminished. It might be suggested that elevation of EGF concentration in PF in this group is the result of secretory activity of endometriosis lesions and macrophages didn't regulate the local EGF production in fertile women. EGF level in PF of infertile women was increased only in women with minimal manifestations of endometriosis but not in women with advanced stages of the disease. Simultaneously the increase of EGF production by peritoneal macrophages of infertile women with advanced stages of endometriosis was shown. These facts give an evidence in favor of high level of macrophage activation and their participation in regulation of EGF level in peritoneal cavity in infertile women with endometriosis.