THE PERITONEAL-FLUID LEVELS OF INTERLEUKIN-12 IN WOMEN WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS

PROBLEM: Interleukin-12 (IL-22) is produced mainly by monocytes/macrop hages, and it induces proliferation and cytotoxicity of T-cells and na tural killer cells. In women with endometriosis, natural killer cell a ctivity in the peritoneal fluid is significantly decreased. We aimed t o measure the peritoneal fluid level of IL-12 in endometriosis. METHOD OF STUDY:We measured 1L-12 levels in peritoneal fluid samples from wo men with or without endometriosis and in supernatants from endometrial stromal, ovarian stromal, and mesothelial cell cultures, using a high -sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The median co ncentration of IL-12 in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometrios is was 1.1 pg/ml (range, 0.2-5.5) and was 1.6 pg/ml (range, 0.4-2.8) i n women without endometriosis, not a statistically significant differe nce. IL-12 was not detected in the supernatants of endometrial stromal , ovarian stromal, and mesothelial cell cultures. CONCLUSION: Concentr ations of IL-12 in the peritoneal fluid of women with or without endom etriosis are low, but they are detectable and are not affected signifi cantly by the presence of endometriosis.