Dysregulated T helper cytokines in serum and peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis-related infertility
- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine , Universitas Airlangga , ,
Abstract
Background
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition and is one of the leading causes of infertility. The role of T helper (Th) cytokines in infertility remains largely unexamined, despite their recognized importance in endometriosis.Objectives
To investigate the serum and peritoneal fluid levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-17A, IL-17F, and IFN-γ in women with endometriosis and to explore their correlations with disease severity.Methods
Eighty-seven infertile women undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy were included, comprising 44 endometriosis patients and 43 controls with benign gynecologic disorders. Serum and peritoneal cytokines were measured using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses assessed differences and correlations with clinical parameters.Results
Both serum and peritoneal fluid levels of IL-4 and IL-5 were markedly higher in endometriosis patients compared to controls (P < 0.001). Although serum IL-10 levels did not show significant differences, there was an increase in peritoneal fluid (P < 0.001). Among those with endometriosis, serum levels of IL-4, IL-10, IL-17A, and IL-17F exhibited a positive correlation with the revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine score, while IL-17F indicated an inverse correlation with the Endometriosis Fertility Index (EFI) scores (r = -0.422, P = 0.004). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that IL-4 and IL-5 effectively distinguished endometriosis cases from controls, with IL-17F also providing significant predictive value for EFI scores (P = 0.015).Conclusions
Elevated IL-4 and IL-5 levels in endometriosis suggest a Th2-skewed immune response. Meanwhile, the correlation of IL-17A with disease severity and the inverse relationship of IL-17F with fertility scores highlight the complex role of the Th17 response. These findings enhance understanding of cytokine dysregulation in endometriosis and may guide future therapeutic strategies.
Related
- Endometriosis-related peritoneal adhesion formation: molecular mechanisms and clinical significance
- Inflammation–fibrosis crosstalk in endometriosis: immune–stromal mechanisms linking lesion persistence to pain and infertility
- Endometriosis-Associated Infertility: Molecular Mechanisms and Evidence-Based Clinical Management
- Menstrual symptoms and infertility odds among individuals with co-occurring endometriosis and polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome
- A Study on Changes in Serum HMGB1/RAGE Pro-Inflammatory Axis and Related Cytokines Levels in Patients with Acute Brucellosis in Qinghai Province, China
BibTeX
@article{ahsan2026dysregulated,
title = {{Dysregulated T helper cytokines in serum and peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis-related infertility}},
author = {Fadhil Ahsan and Nanda Yuli Rahmawati and M. Y. Ardianta Widyanugraha and Arif Tunjungseto and Sri Ratna Dwiningsih and Ashon Sa'adi and Budi Santoso},
journal = {Asian biomedicine : research, reviews and news},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.2478/abm-2026-0028},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13718365},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Dysregulated T helper cytokines in serum and peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis-related infertility
AU - Fadhil Ahsan
AU - Nanda Yuli Rahmawati
AU - M. Y. Ardianta Widyanugraha
AU - Arif Tunjungseto
AU - Sri Ratna Dwiningsih
AU - Ashon Sa'adi
AU - Budi Santoso
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/31
JO - Asian biomedicine : research, reviews and news
DO - 10.2478/abm-2026-0028
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13718365
AB - Background Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition and is one of the leading causes of infertility. The role of T helper (Th) cytokines in infertility remains largely unexamined, despite their recognized importance in endometriosis.Objectives To investigate the serum and peritoneal fluid levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-17A, IL-17F, and IFN-γ in women with endometriosis and to explore their correlations with disease severity.Methods Eighty-seven infertile women undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy were included, comprising 44 endometriosis patients and 43 controls with benign gynecologic disorders. Serum and peritoneal cytokines were measured using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses assessed differences and correlations with clinical parameters.Results Both serum and peritoneal fluid levels of IL-4 and IL-5 were markedly higher in endometriosis patients compared to controls (P < 0.001). Although serum IL-10 levels did not show significant differences, there was an increase in peritoneal fluid (P < 0.001). Among those with endometriosis, serum levels of IL-4, IL-10, IL-17A, and IL-17F exhibited a positive correlation with the revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine score, while IL-17F indicated an inverse correlation with the Endometriosis Fertility Index (EFI) scores (r = -0.422, P = 0.004). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that IL-4 and IL-5 effectively distinguished endometriosis cases from controls, with IL-17F also providing significant predictive value for EFI scores (P = 0.015).Conclusions Elevated IL-4 and IL-5 levels in endometriosis suggest a Th2-skewed immune response. Meanwhile, the correlation of IL-17A with disease severity and the inverse relationship of IL-17F with fertility scores highlight the complex role of the Th17 response. These findings enhance understanding of cytokine dysregulation in endometriosis and may guide future therapeutic strategies.
SN - 1905-7415
SN - 1875-855X
ER -