DECREASE IN INTERFERON-GAMMA PRODUCTION AND IMPAIRMENT OF T-LYMPHOCYTE PROLIFERATION IN PERITONEAL-FLUID OF WOMEN WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to verify regional immune modulations and t o test the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist in women w ith endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN: Concentrations of peritoneal cytokine s, including interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-2, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, interleukin-6, granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating facto r, interferon gamma, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were compared in women with and without endometriosis. Peritoneal cytokine and interleu kin-2 production were examined by adding various mitogens to peritonea l 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-cc and a decrease in interferon gamma were noted in women with endometriosis. After gonadotropin-releasing hormon e agonist treatment interleukin-6 decreased and interferon gamma incre ased. A significant impairment of interleukin-2 production of peritone al fluid mononuclear cells by phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen stimulation was demonstrated in endometriosis, and production could be restored after gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment. CONC LUSION: These results indicate that regional immunologic dysfunction m ight be invoked in the disease process of endometriosis.