Diagnostic Potential of Cytokine Biomarkers in Endometriosis: Challenges and Insights

Abstract

Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition affecting approximately 10% of women of reproductive age, characterized by the abnormal presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus. Although endometriosis was first described over 300 years ago, its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood, and accurate, prompt diagnosis continues to be challenging. Currently, there is a lack of effective, non-invasive diagnostic methods, and available treatments often come with significant side effects and high recurrence rates. This has spurred interest in investigating the role of pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules, particularly cytokines, in endometriosis, as these molecules play a key role in its progression by influencing cell growth and differentiation. Previous studies suggest that various cytokines could serve as potential biomarkers for diagnosing endometriosis, as they are detectable in both serum and peritoneal fluid. This review provides an overview of the expression, origin, function, and regulation of specific cytokines in endometriosis, along with a brief discussion on their potential clinical implications for diagnosis. Due to the complexity of endometriosis, a panel of multiple biomarkers may ultimately be necessary for accurate diagnosis. It is essential to consider factors such as patient selection, sample collection, and analytical variability when initiating or evaluating biomarker studies.

Keywords: biomarkers; cytokines; diagnostics; endometriosis; gene polymorphism.

Figure 1

The balance of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in endometriosis.

Figure 2

Essential cells in cytokines production.