INCREASED MONOCYTE CHEMOTACTIC PROTEIN-1 LEVEL AND ACTIVITY IN THE PERIPHERAL-BLOOD OF WOMEN WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in the peripheral blood of women with and without endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty-seven patients with endometriosis at laparoscopy done f or infertility and pelvic pain were compared with 44 fertile women wit h no evidence of endometriosis at tubal ligation by laparoscopy. Monoc yte chemotactic protein-1 concentration in the plasma was determined b y enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and its biologic activity was eval uated by measuring monocyte chemotaxis with use of a human histiocytic cell line (U937). RESULTS: Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 concentrati ons (median and range of values) found in the plasma were higher in pa tients with endometriosis (163, 0 to 788 pg/ml) than in normal control s (0, 0 to 355 pg/ml). This elevation was significant only in the mini mal stage of endometriosis (revised American Fertility Society stage I ). However, increased chemotactic activity (mean number of migrating c ells/mm(2) +/- SEM) was found in the stages I (1240 +/- 141), II (519 +/- 30), and III-IV (523 +/- 23) of the disease compared with normal c ontrols (205 +/- 20). A total of 35% to 44% of this activity was inhib ited in the presence of an antibody specific to monocyte chemotactic p rotein-1. CONCLUSION: Endometriosis is associated with increased level and activity of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in the peripheral bloo d. The elevation and activation of this cytokine could play a relevant role in the immunoinflammatory process associated with the disease.