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Macrophages in Pathophysiology of Endometriosis

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Endometriosis

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Abstract

The mechanisms that sustain endometrial tissues at ectopic sites in patients with endometriosis are poorly understood. It is well established now that endometriosis is associated with changes in population and functions of various leukocytes, including macrophages. Macrophages are the most abundant cells found in the peritoneal fluid and are the consistent feature of endometriotic lesion. They infiltrate endometriotic lesions where they undergo alternative activation as a consequence of signals generated within the invaded tissue. However, instead of clearing endometrial cells from the peritoneal cavity and restoring local homeostasis, macrophages appear to enhance their survival and proliferation by secreting growth, remodelling and inflammatory factors which could contribute to the development of endometriosis as well as to the disease-associated chronic pelvic inflammation and symptoms. Thus, unveiling the molecular mechanisms that underlie macrophage dysfunctions is a critical area of research, which would lead to the development of novel medical treatments for endometriosis. In this chapter, we described how macrophages can play a critical role in the pathophysiology of endometriosis not only via their weakened phagocytic functions but also via other major mechanisms revealed to date.

*Author contributed equally with all other contributors.

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Abbreviations

CD:

Cluster of differentiation

Cox-2:

Cyclooxygenase-2

DCs:

Dendritic cells

E2:

Oestrogen

FGF:

Fibroblast growth factor

ICAM-l:

Intercellular adhesion molecule-l

IL:

Interleukin

IFN-γ:

Interferon gamma

ISO-1:

((S,R) 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-5-isoxazole acetic methyl ester

LFA-1:

Leukocyte function antigen-l

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharide

MAPK:

Mitogen-activated protein kinase

MCP-1:

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1

MIF:

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor

MMPs:

Matrix metalloproteinases

NF-κB:

Nuclear factor kappa B

NGF:

Nerve growth factor

NK:

Natural killer

PGE2:

Prostaglandin-E2

PGF2α:

Prostaglandin-F2α

PGs:

Prostaglandins

PlGF:

Placental growth factor

RANTES:

Regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted

StAR:

Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein

TGF:

Tumour growth factor

TIMPs:

Tissue inhibitors of MMPs

TNF-α:

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha

uNK:

Uterine natural killer

VEGF:

Vascular endothelial growth factor

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Acknowledgement

This study is supported by CIHR grants MOP 93716, 120769 and 123259 to Pr. Ali Akoum, Chercheur National, FRQ-S.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Faculté de Medicine, Endocrinologie de la Reproduction, CHU de Québec, HSFA, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada, G1L 3L5

      S. F. Ahmad, N. Michaud, H. Rakhila & A. Akoum

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    1. S. F. Ahmad
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    2. N. Michaud
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    3. H. Rakhila
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    4. A. Akoum
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    Correspondence to A. Akoum .

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    1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago, Tottori, Japan

      Tasuku Harada

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    Ahmad, S.F., Michaud, N., Rakhila, H., Akoum, A. (2014). Macrophages in Pathophysiology of Endometriosis. In: Harada, T. (eds) Endometriosis. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54421-0_6

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