Decrease in interferon gamma production and impairment of T-lymphocyte proliferation in peritoneal fluid of women
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine and the Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Republic of China.
Insights
Endometriosis is linked to immune system dysfunction in the peritoneum, with altered cytokine levels. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment partially restored immune cell function in women with endometriosis.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive immunology
- Gynecologic pathology
Background:
- Endometriosis is a condition characterized by endometrial tissue outside the uterus.
- Regional immune dysregulation is implicated in endometriosis pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate regional immune modulations in women with endometriosis.
- To evaluate the therapeutic effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) on immune function in endometriosis.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of peritoneal fluid cytokine concentrations (IL-1β, IL-2, sIL-2R, IL-6, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, TNF-α) between women with and without endometriosis.
- Assessment of peritoneal fluid mononuclear cell (PFMC) cytokine production and IL-2 response to mitogens before and after GnRH-a treatment in advanced endometriosis.
Main Results:
- Women with endometriosis exhibited elevated peritoneal IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, with decreased IFN-γ.
- GnRH-a treatment led to decreased IL-6 and increased IFN-γ.
- PFMC from women with endometriosis showed impaired IL-2 production, which was restored after GnRH-a therapy.
Conclusions:
- Regional immune dysfunction is a potential factor in the development of endometriosis.
- GnRH-a therapy may modulate immune responses in endometriosis.
Objective:
Our purpose was to verify regional immune modulations and to test the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist in women with endometriosis.
Study Design:
Concentrations of peritoneal cytokines, including interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-2, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, interleukin-6, granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor, interferon gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were compared in women with and without endometriosis. Peritoneal cytokine and interleukin-2 production were examined by adding various mitogens to peritoneal fluid mononuclear cells of women with advanced endometriosis before and after gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment.
Results:
A significant increase in peritoneal interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and a decrease in interferon gamma were noted in women with endometriosis. After gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment interleukin-6 decreased and interferon gamma increased. A significant impairment of interleukin-2 production of peritoneal fluid mononuclear cells by phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen stimulation was demonstrated in endometriosis, and production could be restored after gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment.
Conclusion:
These results indicate that regional immunologic dysfunction might be invoked in the disease process of endometriosis.
