Dysregulation of cell-mediated immunity in endometriosis, compared to disease-free women with no clinical evidence of endometriosis, accounts for the survival and growth of endometriotic tissue. Specifically, nonapoptotic menstrual debris escapes detection and elimination by immune cells, initiating an inflammatory cascade via production of chemokines/cytokines.
ENA-78: Epithelial cell-derived neutrophil-activating peptide 78; KIR: Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor; LFA1: Lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1; MCP-1: Monocyte chemotactic protein-1; MMP-9: Matrix metalloproteinase-9; NK: Natural killer; PGE2: Prostaglandin E2; sICAM-1: Soluble ICAM-1.