CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHEMOKINE PROFILE IN WOMEN WITH ADENOMYOSIS

Abstract

Adenomyosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the infiltration of endometrial tissue into the myometrium and the activation of immune-inflammatory responses at both local and systemic levels. A key aspect of the disease's pathogenesis involves alterations in the regulation of cytokine and chemokine balance, disturbances in angiogenesis, and processes of uterine wall remodeling. All these factors contribute to disease progression and worsening of patients' conditions. Recent studies increasingly emphasize the role of the immune system, particularly chemokines, in the development of adenomyosis, as well as the potential use of immunological markers for diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression. The aim of the present study was to analyze the chemokine profile in women with stage I–II adenomyosis. Concentrations of the following chemokines in blood plasma were studied: IL-8, MCP-1, IP-10, and MIP-1β. The study included 81 women of reproductive age residing in the city of Urgench, Khorezm region, of whom 56 patients were diagnosed with adenomyosis (stage I or II), and 25 healthy women served as the control group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine chemokine concentrations, and Student’s t-test was employed for statistical analysis. The results revealed significant changes in the chemokine profile in patients with adenomyosis. Levels of IL-8, MCP-1, and MIP-1β were significantly elevated (by 3.7-, 1.9-, and 1.6-fold, respectively), indicating the development of an inflammatory process and activation of various components of the immune response. Elevated IL-8 levels were associated with angiogenesis and neutrophil infiltration of tissues, MCP-1 with the recruitment of monocytes and macrophages to the inflammatory site, and MIP-1β with activation of innate immunity. Meanwhile, IP-10 levels showed a tendency to decrease (~12%), which may indicate a reduction in anti-angiogenic activity and disruption of the Th1 response.

Thus, the study confirmed a pronounced imbalance of chemokines in adenomyosis and highlighted promising directions for the diagnosis and monitoring of this disease. Investigating immune mechanisms may be valuable for developing new therapeutic approaches based on correcting the identified abnormalities.