Immunologic Aspects of Endometriosis

Endometriosis is now widely considered to be a disease characterized by chronic inflammation. The purpose of this review is to summarize the literature regarding the immunologic aspects of endometriosis and highlight recent advances in the field.

The microenvironment of the endometrium and peritoneal cavity form the foundation for development of endometriosis. Each is structurally comprised of an assortment of immunologic components, including immune cells, signaling factors, and the microbiome, in an estrogen-dependent, pro-inflammatory setting, fueling endometriotic disease. This leads to the angiogenesis and neuroinflammation seen in disease progression.

Recent findings center on translational studies that build on years of research on the interplay of the immune system, steroidogenic hormones, and endometriosis to develop new biomarkers for early detection and therapeutics for prevention and treatment of disease.