TARGET ANTIGEN(S) IN ENDOMETRIAL AUTOIMMUNITY OF ENDOMETRIOSIS

OBJECTIVE: To obtain the molecular weights (MW) of endometrial antigen s eliciting immunoglobulin (Ig) G auto-antibodies in all endometriosis patients irrespective of their place of origin or race, and to verify their specificity and immunogenicity. STUDY DESIGN AND RESULTS: We te sted the serum and peritoneal fluid (P.F.) of 76 endometriosis patient s and 24 controls from 4 cities against endometrial and implant antige ns by Western blot analysis, Endometrial and implant antigens with MW of 34, 46/48, 64, 84, 94 and 120 kDa bound with IgG in serum and PF of most patients, but not the controls. Antigen(s) with MW of 64 kDa was reactive against serum or P.F. IgG of patients from all cities. Speci ficity: Endometrial and implant extracts did not react with monoclonal antibodies to WBC subsets and 5 sera with nuclear antibodies. Also, t he presence of nuclear and endometrial antibodies did not correlate in 20 other patients with endometriosis. Immunogenicity: We immunized ra bbits with the native and eluted (MW 29 to 68 kDa and greater than or equal to 68 kDa) endometrial and implant proteins. The antiserum had s pecific IgG binding to the same glandular epithelial antigens as those bound by the patient's serum. CONCLUSIONS: Endometrial antigens with MW of 34, 46/48, 64, 94 and 120 kDa, especially 64 kDa appear to be sp ecific, immunogenic and relevant to endometrial autoimmunity in all pa tients with endometriosis.