Abstract
Objective - To evaluate cell-mediated immunity in endometriosis. Design - Peritoneal fluid and peripheral blood samples from 19 women with macroscopic evidence of endometriosis and 26 controls were submitted to 2-color flow cytometric analysis to assess lymphocyte subsets, using various combinations of monoclonal antibodies. K562 cells were used in a routine assay by 51Cr release to measure the cytotoxicity of NK cells in the subjects' peripheral blood. Results - Suppressor T-cells were significantly increased and cytotoxic T-cells significantly decreased in both peritoneal fluid and peripheral blood of the women with endometriosis. NK activity in peripheral blood was decreased in endometriosis patients as compared with controls. Conclusion - An alteration in cell-mediated immunity may be among the pathogenetic, or developing, factors in endometriosis.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 229-234 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | International Journal of Fertility |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 4 |
Publication status | Published - 1993 Jan 1 |
Keywords
- cell-mediated immunity
- endometriosis
- flow cytometric analysis
- lymphocytes (NK-, T-cells)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology