The Relationship Between 1,25(OH)2D3 Levels and Interleukin-32 (IL-32) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Levels in Endometriosis Cyst Tissue

Endometriosis involves the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, driven by inflammatory pathways including elevated Interleukin-32 (IL-32) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). One potential anti-inflammatory agent is active vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3). This research investigates the correlation among 1,25(OH)2D3 levels, IL-32, and VEGF in 46 confirmed endometriosis cases. Tissue samples were collected from patients at several hospitals, and assays were conducted at the Clinical Pathology Laboratory of Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The study revealed significant negative correlations between 1,25(OH)2D3 and both IL-32 (r= -0.346; p = 0.019) and VEGF levels (r= -0.316; p = 0.032). Conversely, there was a significant positive correlation between VEGF and IL-32 (r = 0.490; p = 0.001). These findings underscore the role of active vitamin D in mitigating inflammation associated with endometriosis by reducing IL-32 and VEGF, critical factors in inflammatory responses and blood vessel formation. Moreover, the positive association between VEGF and IL-32 highlights their collaborative role in the inflammatory processes underlying endometriosis. This study contributes to understanding how vitamin D may modulate key inflammatory pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of this condition.