GnRH analogue remarkably down-regulates inflammatory proteins in peritoneal fluid proteome of women with endometriosis.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the changes in the peritoneal fluid proteome of women with endometriosis determined by the administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRH-a). STUDY DESIGN: Peritoneal fluid samples were collected during laparoscopy from patients under GnRH-a and from women who did not receive any type of hormonal treatment in the 6 months before surgery. Samples were subjected to 2-D gel electrophoresis and compared by computerized analysis. Protein spots differentially expressed between the study groups were identified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: More than 470 protein spots were analyzed. Several proteins with significant alterations were found. The down-regulated molecules were isoforms of alpha 2-HS glycoprotein, alpha 1-antitrypsin, S100-A8, haptoglobin alpha chain and vitamin D-binding protein. No protein spot had significantly higher expression in peritoneal fluid of women under GnRH-a than in untreated patients. CONCLUSION: Several inflammatory molecules present in peritoneal fluid are down-regulated during treatment with GnRH-a; administration of this drug reduces the inflammation in the peritoneal cavity.