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Characterization of endometriosis-associated immune cell infiltrates (EMaICI)

  • Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To identify and characterize endometriosis-associated immune cell infiltrates (EMaICI). Furthermore, to define occurrence and size of EMaICI in various types of endometriosis.

Methods

Immune cells were characterized in samples of 60 premenopausal women with histological proven endometriosis. Therefore, immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal antibodies for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD45RO, CD25, CD56, CD68, and CD20 on sections of paraffin-embedded endometriotic tissue was performed.

Results

EMaICI were observed in all the types of endometriosis, and characterized as T lymphocytes (CD3+), helper T lymphocytes (CD4+), cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8+), antigen-experienced T lymphocytes”memory cells” (CD45RO+), macrophages (CD68+), and B lymphocytes (CD20+). The maximum frequency of EMaICI and their distribution per endometriotic lesion (EML) was observed in peritoneal endometriosis (pEM) and in ovarian endometriosis (Ov. EM). In myometrium from adenomyosis (M/AM), EMaICI occurrence was lower and smaller in size in comparison with EMaICI seen in other forms of endometriosis. EMaICI were negative for regulatory T cells (CD25+ high, FoxP3+) and natural killer cells (NK cells, CD56+).

Conclusion

Numerous and brisk EMaICI comprising several types of immune cells in all endometriosis forms suggest acute immunological reactions within the microenvironment of endometriosis lesions.

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Abbreviations

AM:

Adenomyosis

CD:

Cluster of differentiation

DIE:

Deep infiltrating rectovaginal endometriosis

EDT:

Endometriosis disease theory

EM:

Endometriosis

EMaICI:

Endometriosis-associated immune cell infiltrates

EML:

Endometriotic lesions

EN1/pEM:

Endometrium from patients with peritoneal EM

EN2/AM:

Endometrium from adenomyosis

EN3k/UM:

Endometrium from uterus myomatosus, used as control

ICI:

Immune cell infiltrates

IHC:

Immunohistochemistry

M/AM:

Myometrium from adenomyosis

M/UM:

Myometrium from myomatosus uterus, used as control

NK:

Natural killer cells

NLP:

Non-lesional peritoneum, used as control

NLO:

Non-lesional ovarium, used as control

Ov. EM:

Ovarian endometriosis

p EM:

Peritoneal endometriosis

p:

Proliferative phase

s:

Secretory phase

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology, Charité, Endometriosis Research Center Charité, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200, Berlin, Germany

    Claudia Scheerer, Petia Bauer, Vito Chiantera, Jalid Sehouli, Andreas Kaufmann & Sylvia Mechsner

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  1. Claudia Scheerer
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  2. Petia Bauer
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  3. Vito Chiantera
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  6. Sylvia Mechsner
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Correspondence to Sylvia Mechsner.

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All authors of this work declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical issues

All procedures performed in this study involving human samples were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Charité ethics committee. The study was approved by the IRB of Charité ethics committee (EA) and informed consent was obtained from all patients.

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Scheerer, C., Bauer, P., Chiantera, V. et al. Characterization of endometriosis-associated immune cell infiltrates (EMaICI). Arch Gynecol Obstet 294, 657–664 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-016-4142-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-016-4142-6

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