Increasing peritoneal IL-1ra may reduce the progression of endometriosis
Source: Fertility and Sterility 2007; 88: 594-9
The levels of interleukin-1ra in the peritoneal fluid may play an important role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and disease-related dysmenorrhea.
MedWire News: Researchers have found that concentrations of the cytokine IL-1ra are reduced in the peritoneal fluid (PF) of women with endometriosis.
The team suggests that abnormal expression of peritoneal cytokines may contribute to the development and progression of the condition.
Ximmei Zhang (Women's Hospital, Zheijang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou-China) and colleagues report an average PF interleukin (IL)-1ra concentration of 102.64 pg/ml in 74 endometriosis sufferers, compared with 211.03 pg/ml in 44 women without endometriosis.
Their results also showed that PF IL-1ra levels were significantly lower in patients with moderate-to-severe endometriosis than in those with mild-to-moderate symptoms.
Moreover, PF IL-1ra levels were significantly lower in 26 endometriosis patients with dysmenorrhea, at 57.99 pg/ml, compared with 142.46 pg/ml in 48 endometriosis patients without dysmenorrhea. Serum IL concentrations were unaffected by the menstrual cycle, however.
Investigators have speculated that IL-1ra competes with IL-1beta and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. This makes anakinra, a human recombinant form of IL1-ra previously used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, a potential therapeutic option in endometriosis, they say.
The investigators comment: "Our results show that peritoneal IL-1ra concentrations were decreased in patients with endometriosis and disease-related dysmenorrhea, and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease."
Posted: 14 September 2007
http://www.orgyn.com/en//news/2007/w...ageid=193048#1 
Increasing peritoneal IL-1ra may reduce the progression of endometriosis 
