Levels of Galectin-3 and Stimulation Expressed Gene 2 in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis: a pilot study

Abstract

Endometriosis is a puzzling disorder with obscure pathogenesis. Several studies suggest that peritoneal fluid is a key inflammatory environment in the development and progression of the disease. This study analyzed the levels of two inflammatory factors – Galectin-3 and Stimulation Expressed Gene 2 – in the peritoneal fluid of 15 women affected by endometriosis and 8 controls. The peritoneal fluid was collected during laparoscopic surgery avoiding any form of contamination and it was properly processed and stored. Gal-3 and ST2 peritoneal concentrations were analyzed using enzyme immunoassay kit. Gal-3 levels were significantly higher in endometriosis group than in controls (64.7 ± 52.34 versus 21.05 ± 20.83 ng/ml, p = 0.044), whereas ST2 concentrations did not differ between the two groups. A significant positive correlation was found between Gal-3 and ST2 levels. Gal-3 levels positively correlated with the stage of endometriosis, the duration of symptoms, Marinoff scale and VAS score, while ST2 levels were positively associated with VAS score. Our results suggest that Gal-3 and ST2 could be implicated in the inflammatory process of the disease. Further studies are needed to identify markers of early diagnosis and to open new therapeutic avenues in endometriosis.

Chinese abstract

由于并未明确的发病机制,子宫内膜异位症成为一种令人困惑的疾病。一些研究认为腹腔液是子宫内膜异位发生和发展的关键炎症环境。本研究分析了两种炎症因子-- 半乳糖凝集素3及刺激表达基因2在15名患有子宫内膜异位症妇女和8名对照妇女腹腔液中的水平。腹腔液通过避免了任何污染的腹腔镜手术收集并妥善处理和保存，随后使用酶免疫分析法分析了浓缩腹腔液中的Gal-3和ST2。异位症组的Gal-3水平明显高于对照组(64.7 ± 52.34 比 21.05 ± 20.83 ng/ml,p=0.044)，而ST2水平在两组中并无明显差异。Gal-3与ST2水平存在明显的正相关，Gal-3水平与内异症的发展阶段、症状的持续时间、Marinoff及VAS评分正相关，而ST2与VAS评分呈正相关。我们的结果显示Gal-3和ST2或与内异症炎症发展过程有关。为确定子宫内膜异位症的早期诊断标记物及开展新的治疗方式仍需要进一步的研究。

• Endometriosis
• gal-3
• peritoneal fluid
• peritoneal inflammation
• ST2