Endometriosis associated with infertility: interactions of immunoendocrine violations (literature review)

Abstract

Endometriosis (endometrioid heterotopies) is a pa­thological process in which in the myometrium or other organs of the reproductive system and out of it, there are focal areas whose structure is characterized by the presence of epithelial and stromal elements with endometrial characteristics. The pathogenesis of endometriosis and associated infertility is unclear. However, most scientists agree that in any case, there is a risk of ectopic growth of the endometrium in two cases: the ability of the endometrium to proliferate outside the limits of physiological loca­lization with subsequent infiltration into the substructure (for ­example, stroma of the peritoneum), and under specific conditions for its functioning in the environment of new loca­lization — the presence of corresponding hormonal background and the necessary growth factors. All these processes are regulated by the factors of ]immunity that are considered, along with endocrine and genetic, as leading factors in the development of the disease. The work was carried out by reviewing of the publications of PubMed and Medline databases in recent decades.

Keywords

• endometriosis
• infertility
• immune factors
• cytokines
• immune cells
• pathogenesis
• review