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Clinical and Developmental Immunology logoLink to Clinical and Developmental Immunology
. 2005 Jun;12(2):125–129. doi: 10.1080/17402520500125484

Endometriosis and Infertility: A Multi-cytokine Imbalance Versus Ovulation, Fertilization and Early Embryo Development

S Vassiliadis 1, K Relakis 2, A Papageorgiou 2, I Athanassakis 1
PMCID: PMC2270735  PMID: 16050143

Abstract

Endometriosis is tightly linked to infertility which is manifested at very early or more advanced stages of the gestational cycle. Alteration on the production of a great number of cytokines/growth factors can be accused for problems on ovum maturation, fertilization or implantation. Yet, macroscopically these stages are characterized by the inability of conception. A closer look of the cytokinic profile during the conceptional and early gestational cycle could, however, localize the problem and allow a therapeutic approach. In this commentary, going through the cytokine requirement during ovulation, fertilization and the early stages of pregnancy, it became possible to specifically define the harmful endometriosis-induced cytokines for each of the conceptional and early gestational stages. Thus, regulating the levels of interferon-γ and tumor necrosis-α will facilitate ovulation and fertilization, whereas adjusting the levels of interleukin-1β and colony stimulating gactor-1 will facilitate implantation.

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