Abstract

Endometriosis is an extremely heterogeneous disease and affects about ten percent of the female population during their reproductive years. Recent studies showed that endometriosis is an angiogenesis-dependent disease. Peritoneal macrophages are a well-characterised source of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The aim of this study was to determine the gene expression and production in peritoneal macrophages of patients with endometriosis under the effects of vitamins C and E in comparison with control. The lab trial study carried out on 50 patients undergoing laparoscopy and peritoneal fluid samples were collected from them. We compared the gene expression and production in peritoneal macrophages among groups by using real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods, respectively. Our results showed that gene expressions influenced by vitamin C increased in different concentrations and incubation times, except for the incubation time after 48 h. In the case of vitamin E, this was evident with the exception of vitamin E 50 μM after 24 h and vitamin E 100 μM after 48 h. Our findings indicated that vitamin C and E in different concentrations and incubation times altered gene expression in the peritoneal macrophages but they had not affected on VEGF productions. Impact statement Previous studies showed that antioxidants play a key role in the inhibition of oxidative stress-induced damages and the reduction of pelvic pain in patients with endometriosis. Vitamin E and vitamin C are the main components in neutralising free radicals. Also, antioxidant consumption such as vitamin C and vitamin E in women with endometriosis showed an inverse correlation between antioxidant intake and endometriosis pathology. Vitamin C and E in different concentrations and times of incubation altered vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression and production in peritoneal macrophages. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of C and E vitamins in different concentrations on vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression and production in peritoneal macrophages and the possible roles of these vitamins in treating endometriosis.