Abstract | BACKGROUND: Pelvic inflammatory phenomena have been suggested as critical players in the natural history of endometriosis. However, to what extent these events could affect the systemic immunologic status remains to be clarified. Here, we compared the gene expression profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from endometriosis patients in the severe diseased stage with the profile after a conventional surgical treatment for removal of endometriotic lesions and adhesions. METHODS: Microarray analysis included four patients suffering from severe endometriosis in which blood samples were obtained few days before the surgical intervention and again 6 months later. Real-time quantitative PCR analyses on a larger population were performed for some genes up-regulated in the diseased stage in a case-control approach. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS:
Endometriosis induces the expression of genes in peripheral leukocytes already identified in non-gynaecologic chronic inflammatory diseases, thus revealing the disease as a local affliction with relevant consequences at the systemic level. Although the commonality of gene expression with other inflammatory diseases prevents the use of these genes as non-invasive diagnostic markers, from a clinical standpoint, the idea that the surgical intervention may reduce the expression of peripheral leukocyte genes represents a novel finding.
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Authors | Davide Gentilini, Antonio Perino, Paola Viganò, Ilda Chiodo, Gaspare Cucinella, Michele Vignali, Anna Maria Di Blasio, Mauro Busacca |
Journal | Human reproduction (Oxford, England)
(Hum Reprod)
Vol. 26
Issue 11
Pg. 3109-17
(Nov 2011)
ISSN: 1460-2350 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 21849302
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Topics |
- Adult
- Animals
- Case-Control Studies
- Chronic Disease
- Endometriosis
(blood, metabolism)
- Female
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Humans
- Inflammation
- Leukocytes
(cytology)
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear
(cytology)
- Mice
- Middle Aged
- Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
- Osteosarcoma
(blood, metabolism)
- Psoriasis
(blood, metabolism)
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
(methods)
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