SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF SOLUBLE HUMAN-LEUKOCYTE CLASS-I ANTIGENS AND OF THE SOLUBLE INTERCELLULAR-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 IN ENDOMETRIOSIS - RELATIONSHIP WITH STAGE AND NONPIGMENTED PERITONEAL LESIONS

Serum concentrations of soluble human leukocyte class I antigens (sHLA -I) and of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) are increas ed in the early inflammatory stages of several immune-related diseases . These soluble molecules also exert immunomodulatory activity, includ ing regulation of natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, The aim of th is study was to verify whether sHLA-I and sICAM-1 serum concentrations are related to the various stages of pelvic endometriosis, which is a n immune-related disorder associated with impaired in-vitro NK cell ac tivity. Serum sHLA-I and sICAM-1 concentrations were similar in patien ts and in healthy donors. However, when evaluated according to disease stage, sHLA-I and sICAM-1 concentrations were higher in patients with endometriosis stage I-II (revised American Fertility Society classifi cation), or with non-pigmented peritoneal lesions. In conclusion, stud ies on sHLA-I and sICAM-1 may help to clarify the pathogenic mechanism s of endometriosis, and their serum concentrations may serve as additi onal markers for the early detection of recurrence of the disease duri ng the monitoring of treatment outcome.