Figure 3.

CXC chemokines: endocrine and paracrine regulation in endometrial cells (stromal, epithelial and endothelial) and mesothelial cells. ↑ stimulation; ⊥ inhibition. The bold, pink signs indicate abnormal responses observed in endometriosis. Observe that both stromal cells and peritoneal (mesothelial) cells release IL-8 after estradiol stimulation, which recruits leukocytes and enhances the local inflammatory response in endometriosis. TNF, tumor necrosis factor; CXCR, CXC chemokine receptor.