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Endometriosis is known to be a chronic, debilitating disease. The pathophysiological mechanisms of endometriosis development include local chronic inflammation and a certain degree of local immune deficit. We investigated the relationship between the endometriosis severity, IL-8, IL-10, BDNF, VEGF-A serum and tissue levels, patient-related pain, and physical activity in a cohort of 46 patients diagnosed with endometriosis who underwent surgery. The same panel of biomarkers was investigated in a control group of 44 reproductive-aged patients with non-endometriotic gynecological pathology who underwent surgical intervention. Our data show a high statistical significance between tissue expression of IL-8, IL-10, patient-related pain, and the severity of endometriosis. No relationship was identified between serum or tissue levels of VEGF-A and BDNF and the severity of endometriosis. These results validate the presence of local chronic inflammation and immune deficit, thereby creating, alongside other studies in the field, an opportunity for the development of innovative and personalized treatment approaches in endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the study was to investigate interleukin (IL)-4 serum levels in patients with advanced endometriosis and whether IL-4 promoter region (-590C/T) genetic polymorphism is involved in genetic susceptibility to endometriosis. Material and methods: IL-4 serum levels and IL-4 -590C/T genetic polymorphism were determined for 80 patients with advanced endometriosis and 85 healthy fertile women using a multiplex cytokine kit, with a Luminex 200 system; high molecular weight genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes, and further analyzed by PCR amplification and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-PFLP). The relationship between IL-4 serum levels, genotypes and haplotypes and the presence of endometriosis was explored. Results: Interleukin 4 serum levels were significantly higher in the endometriosis group compared to controls (138,459 compared to 84,710, p < 0.001). No significant difference was observed in IL -4 serum levels between genotypes. There were no differences in IL -4 -590C/T genotypes and allele frequencies between control women and patients with endometriosis (2 = 0.496, and 2 = 0.928, OR = 1.3636, CI: 0.725-2.564). Conclusions: The results suggest that in patients with advanced stages of endometriosis there is a higher serum level of IL-4, and that this value, or the presence of the disease, is not influenced by the presence of IL-4 -590C/T genetic polymorphism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to investigate the serum pro-inflammatory cytokine profile in patients with diagnosed endometriosis. Material and methods: The study included 160 women, who were divided in two study groups (Group I - endometriosis; Group 2 - healthy). We evaluated the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-lß, lL-5, IL-6, IL-7, and IL-12, and of tumour necrosis factor a (TNF-a) with the use of Human Multiplex Cytokine Panels. Conclusions: Women with endometriosis have elevated levels of key pro-inflammatory cytokines, i.e. IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-a. At the same time, IL-1ß and IL-6 could be used as predictors for endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to determine menopause-related changes in serum levels of main proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Material and methods: The study included 175 women, who were divided into 5 study groups (group 1 - fertile women; group 2 - pre- and perimenopausal women; group 3 - postmenopausal women; group 4 - surgically induced menopausal women; group 5 - women with chronic inflammatory pathology). We evaluated the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, IL-20 and of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α with the use of two multiplex cytokine kits. We also determined the serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), 17β-estradiol (17β-E2), progesterone (P), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) using sandwich ELISA. Results: The serum level of IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α in women with natural menopause and in women with surgically induced menopause is significantly higher than in fertile women in the control group. In patients with surgically induced menopause and in women with natural menopause, IL-8 serum levels are similar to those seen in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. There is a statistically significant decrease in serum levels of IL-20 in women with natural or surgical menopause than in fertile and premenopausal women. Conclusions: Women in menopause have elevated levels of the key proinflammatory cytokines, i.e. IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α and low serum levels of IL-20 in comparison with fertile women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]