Figure 2.

CC chemokines: endocrine and paracrine regulation in human endometrium and endometriosis. ↑ stimulation; ⊥ inhibition. The bold, pink signs indicate abnormal responses observed in endometriosis. Note that leukocytes are attracted by chemokines released by the endometrial or endometriotic cell in response to estradiol and/or proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α. In endometriotic cells, sex steroids may abnormally stimulate, rather than inhibit MCP-1. NF, nuclear factor; CCR, CC chemokine receptor; MIP, monocyte inflammatory protein.