Introduction
Endometriosis is a benign condition which endometrial glands and stroma appear outside the uterine cavity which presents by pelvic pain and infertility. Endometriosis is associated with changes in cellular and humoral immunity and impaired immune response, leading to inefficient removal of debris after a menstrual cycle. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a class of proteins that play a key role in the innate immune system. Based on recent studies TLRs are increased in endometriosis and initiate immune responses.
Materials and Methods
This case-control study assessed and compared expression of Toll like Receptor 9 in the endometrium of three types: 1) Eutopic Endometrium of women with endometriosis 2) Ectopic endometrium or endometriosis 3) the endometrium of women without endometriosis. Eutopic and ectopic endometrial samples were taken from 10 patients with endometriosis (Case Group). Also endometrial samples were taken from 10 patients without endometriosis or infertility history whom operated for other gynecological cause. Patients were chosen randomly from Arash Hospital. Data analyzed by SPSS.
Results
RT-PCR showed that TLR9 expressed in all three group eutopic, ectopic and control. The level of TLR9 gene expression in ectopic samples, eutopic and controls were evaluated by Real Time-PCR. According to statistical analysis, level of TLR9 was higher in ectopic group, but not significantly (p=0.13). There was no significant difference between eutopic and control groups.
Conclusion
Considering the role of TLR9 in the innate immune system, such as pathogen detection and set up a cascade of inflammatory response associated with cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis, this study approves the association between TLR9 and endometriosis. Because of lack of information about this new issue, we suggest further researches and more studies.