The Promises of Natural Killer Cell Therapy in Endometriosis
Open Access
- 16 May 2022
- journal article
- review article
- Published by MDPI AG in International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- Vol. 23 (10), 5539
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23105539
Abstract
Endometriosis is a gynaecological disease defined by the growth of endometrium-like tissue outside the uterus. The disease is present in approximately 5–10% of women of reproductive age and causes pelvic pain and infertility. The pathophysiology is not completely understood, but retrograde menstruation and deficiency in natural killer (NK) cells that clear endometriotic cells in the peritoneal cavity play an important role. Nowadays, hormonal therapy and surgery to remove endometriosis lesions are used as treatment. However, these therapies do not work for all patients, and hormonal therapy prevents patients from getting pregnant. Therefore, new treatment strategies should be developed. Since the cytotoxicity of NK cells is decreased in endometriosis, we performed a literature search into the possibility of NK cell therapy. Available treatment options include the inhibition of receptor–ligand interaction for KIR2DL1, NKG2A, LILRB1/2, and PD-1/PD-L1; inhibition of TGF-β; stimulation of NK cells with IL-2; and mycobacterial treatment with BCG. In preclinical work, these therapies show promising results but unfortunately have side effects, which have not specifically been studied in endometriosis patients. Before NK cell treatment can be used in the clinic, more research is needed.This publication has 54 references indexed in Scilit:
- Pathogenesis and pathophysiology of endometriosisFertility and Sterility, 2012
- Use of allogeneic NK cells for cancer immunotherapyImmunotherapy, 2011
- Impact of endometriosis on quality of life and work productivity: a multicenter study across ten countriesFertility and Sterility, 2011
- Exploring anti-TGF-β therapies in cancer and fibrosisGrowth Factors, 2011
- Chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis: translational evidence of the relationship and implicationsHuman Reproduction Update, 2010
- Transforming growth factor β as a therapeutic target in systemic sclerosisNature Reviews Rheumatology, 2009
- Increased frequency of human leukocyte antigen–E inhibitory receptor CD94/NKG2A–expressing peritoneal natural killer cells in patients with endometriosisFertility and Sterility, 2008
- Dendritic cells support angiogenesis and promote lesion growth in a murine model of endometriosisThe FASEB Journal, 2007
- Expression of Inhibitory-Motif Killer Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor, KIR2DL1, is Increased in Natural Killer Cells from Women with Pelvic EndometriosisAmerican Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 2005
- Lymphokine-Activated Killer Activity in Women with EndometriosisGynecologic and Obstetric Investigation, 1994