A Possible mechanism of autoimmune-mediated infertility in women with endometriosis

Problem Endometriosis has been proposed to be an autoimmune disease because of the presence of a variety of autoantibodies specific for endometrial or ovarian antigens. The object of the present study is to characterize binding specificity of anti-laminin-111 autoantibodies in infertile patients with endometriosis and to investigate whether these autoantibodies affect the in vitro embryo development. Method of study An ELISA analysis using overlapping synthesized peptides that covered the entire G domain of laminin-α1 chain was performed in infertile patients with endometriosis (n=45). Mouse blastocysts were cultured in media containing the purified IgG from one antibody-positive serum on laminin-111-coated dishes. Results Anti-laminin-111 autoantibodies were directed to several particular biologically functional peptide sequences in laminin-α 1 chain G domain. The tested IgG significantly inhibited the extent of in vitro trophoblast outgrowth. Conclusion Anti-laminin-111 autoantibodies may have major pathogenic roles on early reproductive failure including endometriosis-associated infertility.