The Abundance and Function of Neutrophils in the Endometriosis Systemic and Pelvic Microenvironment

Figure 2

The function of immune cells in the microenvironment of endometriotic lesions. During menstruation, according the theory of retrograde menstruation, live endometrial debris first returns to the peritoneal cavity, containing a large number of neutrophils, cytokines (IL-8), and angiogenic factors (VEGF and ANGPT1/2), which interact with various infiltrative immune cell populations and promote endometrial cell adhesion and cell proliferation. Under the influence of systemic and local abdominal immune dysfunction, immune cells and immune mediators promote the establishment and survival of lesions. The table above outlines the role of each immune cell type in the pathophysiology of endometriosis.