Morphofunctional characteristics of neuroendocrine cells in genital endometriosis

Objective: to study the neuroendocrine component of neuroimmunogenic inflammation in genital endometriosis. Materials: in the clinical study, fragments of endometrioid cysts and endometrial biopsy specimens were analyzed in women with genital endometriosis in two groups: I group – without pain syndrome; II group – with pain syndrome. Methods: light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, PCR- RT. Results: The number of neuroendocrine cells (increased NSE expression) was higher in the II group in patients with pain syndrome by almost 2 times (28.7±3.1 %) compared to group I without pain syndrome (15.6±2.4 %). Expression of S100: Group I – 0.11±0.09, Group II – 0.36±0.11. Expression of PGP 9.5: Group I – 0.8±0.21; Group II – 1.26±0.01. Expression of TAC1, TRPV1, SCN9A, SCN11A in endometrioid cyst samples was significantly higher than the threshold level (p<0.05). Expression of TRPA1 and P2RX3 differed insignificantly compared with the control. Conclusion: an increase in the number of neuroendocrine cells in the focus of neuroimmunogenic inflammation in endometrioid ovarian cysts is one of the key triggers in the pathogenesis of endometriosis-associated pelvic pain. NSE should be considered as a promising marker of genital endometriosis.