Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism Printed in U.S.A. Copyright © 1997 by The Endocrine Society Immunolocalization and Regulation of the Chemokine

Retrograde menstruation is postulated as the initiating event in the histogenesis of endometriosis; however, subsequent steps in the pathogenesis of this common disorder remain poorly characterized. The ip accumulation of activated leukocytes and the infiltration of endometriosis lesions by macrophages and T cells are cytological markers of the inflammatory nature of this syndrome. The apparent recruitment of these leukocytes prompted us to search for chemokine expression by endometriosis cells. We reported previously that pelvic fluid RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted) concentrations correlated with the stage of endometriosis. In the current study, RANTES messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was identified in normal endometrium and endometriosis lesions, and techniques were developed to localize RANTES protein ENDOMETRIOSIS is a prevalent gynecological condition