Human Reproduction, Vol. 18, No. 2, 429-432,
February 2003
© 2003 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Increased levels of interleukin-15 in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis: inverse correlation with stage and depth of invasion
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8063, USA, 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Heraklion Crete and 3 Department of Biology, University of Crete, Greece
4 To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: aydin.arici{at}yale.edu
BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-15 is a novel cytokine with immunoregulatory and angiogenic properties. We compared IL-15 levels in the peritoneal fluid (PF) of women with and without endometriosis. METHODS: PF samples were obtained from 55 women with endometriosis (23 with superficial peritoneal implants, 19 with deep endometriotic implants and 13 with ovarian endometriomas). Eighteen women with normal pelvic anatomy undergoing tubal sterilization served as controls. RESULTS: PF IL-15 concentrations were increased in women with endometriosis (2.7 ± 0.5 pg/ml) versus controls (2.1 ± 0.3 pg/ml; P < 0.001). However, IL-15 levels were higher in women with superficial peritoneal implants (2.9 ± 0.5 pg/ml) than women with deep endometriotic implants (2.6 ± 0.4 pg/ml; P = 0.01) or ovarian endometriomas (2.2 ± 0.4 pg/ml; P < 0.001). IL-15 was also higher in women with deep implants than in those with endometriomas (P < 0.05). PF IL-15 correlated inversely with both depth of invasion (r = –0.52) and the stage of endometriosis (r = –0.42). PF IL-15 levels demonstrated little variation during the menstrual cycle, and did not discriminate between women with infertility or pelvic pain. CONCLUSION: PF IL-15 levels are increased in women with endometriosis. However, IL-15 levels are inversely correlated with the depth of invasion and disease stage, suggesting a possible role for this cytokine in the early pathogenesis of endometriosis.
Key words: angiogenesis/cytokines/endometriosis/interleukin-15/peritoneal fluid
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  M. W. Laschke and M. D. Menger In vitro and in vivo approaches to study angiogenesis in the pathophysiology and therapy of endometriosis Hum. Reprod. Update, July 1, 2007; 13(4): 331 - 342. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. G. Mahutte, I. M. Matalliotakis, A. G. Goumenou, S. Vassiliadis, G. E. Koumantakis, and A. Arici Inverse correlation between peritoneal fluid leptin concentrations and the extent of endometriosis Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2003; 18(6): 1205 - 1209. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|