Peripheral and endometrial dendritic cell populations during the normal cycle and in the presence of endometriosis.

Cyclical variation in endometrial and circulating DC populations appears to be crucial during normal menstrual cycles and in the establishment of pregnancy. In endometriosis, circulating and endometrial DC populations are significantly dysregulated at a number of levels, and are likely to contribute to inefficient immunological targeting of endometrial fragments shed at menstruation, facilitating their survival and establishment of endometriosis.