The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences
Abstract
Endometriosis is a condition found in females of reproductive age. It occurs when tissue, known as the endometrium, grows outside of its designated place- the uterus. It affects the reproductive organs such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic tissues. Endometriosis patients experience chronic pain and fertility issues. There has been a correlation between low cytotoxicity in Natural Killer (NK) cells and the development of the disease. NK cells are part of the human innate immunity system where they defend the body against tumors and any abnormal cells by performing apostasies A study done by the American Fertility Society, which aimed to investigate if there is a defect in the cytotoxicity of NK cells toward endometrial cells. They investigated if the decreased cytotoxicity was caused by the endometrial cells. Additionally, they also tested if the defect was due to NK cells quantity present in the body. Results showed decreased NK cell activity (from 62.2% to 39.8%) and reduced ability to perform apostasis on endometrial cells (from 21.0% to 5.2%) in patients with endometriosis. Study 2, which was done by a group of gynecologists, specifically tested NK cell chemotaxis (motility) from the peritoneal cavity. They specifically chose the peritoneal cavity because they believed that endometriosis develops due a lack of immune response in that cavity. They found that there was a decrease of chemotaxis in NK cells, while macrophages and T cells showed no significant differences. Another group also investigated peritoneal NK cells. They tested the expression of NK cell’s surface antigens and cytokine production to explain how that might cause the development of the disease. The study found that women with severe endometriosis had lower percentages of CD56 and NKp4 cells but higher TNF-α and IFN-γ production. All 3 of the studies prove that there is in fact a link between decreased NK cell activity and development of endometriosis in women.
Recommended Citation
Orelle Shakarchi. (2025). Endometriosis & Natural Killer Cell Activity. The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences, 19(1), 21-26. Retrieved from https://touroscholar.touro.edu/sjlcas/vol19/iss1/4
