Potential Significance of Serum Autoantibodies to Endometrial Antigens, α-Enolase and Hormones in Non-Invasive Diagnosis and Pathogenesis of Endometriosis

Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate the profile of serum autoantibodies and their diagnostic and pathogenetic significance in ovarian endometrioma (OEM) and deep infiltrative endometriosis (DIE). The study enrolled 74 patients with endometriosis (Group 1), including 53 patients with OEM (Subgroup 1a); 21 patients with DIE without ovarian lesions (Subgroup 1b); and 27 patients without endometriosis (Group 2). The diagnosis was confirmed by laparoscopic surgery and histologic examination of resected tissues. Antibodies (M, G) to tropomyosin 3 (TPM), tropomodulin 3 (TMOD), α-enolase (ENO), estradiol (E2), progesterone (PG), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were identified in blood serum using modified ELISA. In endometriosis, antibodies to endometrial antigens, hormones, and ENO were detected more often than antiphospholipid and antinuclear antibodies. Higher levels of IgM to TPM, hCG, E2, and PG and IgG to TMOD, ENO, E2, and hCG were found in Subgroup 1a compared to Group 2. IgM to TPM, hCG, E2, PG, and IgG to E2 and ENO had a high diagnostic value for OEM (AUC > 0.7), with antibodies to TPM having the highest sensitivity and specificity (73.6% and 81.5%). In Subgroup 1b, only the levels of IgM to TPM and hCG were higher than in Group 2. These antibodies had a high diagnostic value for DIE. Thus, endometriosis is associated with autoantibodies to endometrial antigens, α-enolase, steroid, and gonadotropic hormones. A wider spectrum of antibodies is detected in OEM than in DIE. These antibodies have a high diagnostic value for OEM and DIE and potential pathogenetic significance for endometriosis and associated infertility.

Diagnostic Value of Autoantibodies against Steroidogenic Enzymes and Hormones in Infertile Women with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency

“…Antibodies (M, G) to steroid hormones, namely progesterone (PG) and estradiol (E2), were detected by means of modified ELISA as previously described [ 35 ], using Thermo Scientific™ Nunc™ MaxiSorp microplates (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, MA, USA), β-estradiol 6-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime: BSA conjugate (Sigma-Aldrich, Burlington, VT, USA), and progesterone 3-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime: BSA conjugate (XEMA LLC, Moscow, Russia).…”

Angiogenesis signaling in endometriosis: Molecules, diagnosis and treatment (Review)

“…Numerous studies reveal ( 69 , 104 , 105 ) the importance and effectiveness of extracting various putative biomarkers from the biological fluids of affected patients. Nevertheless, due to the large heterogeneity between different studies, there is no uniform conclusion and further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to identify sensitive and specific indicators for transition from the laboratory to the clinic.…”

The Impact of Endometriosis on Pregnancy

“…It is a syndrome of the follicle and not of the corpus luteum. To clarify, there is luteinization of the follicle and differentiation into a corpus luteum (with parallel secretion of progesterone), but without it breaking down and preventing the release of the egg [95].…”