An Immunomodulating Peptide With Potential to Counteract Endometriosis

Endometriosis is underpinned by dysfunctional immune responses resulting in failure to clear ectopic endometrial lesions from the peritoneal cavity. The pelvic milieu comprising immature dendritic cells, dysfunctional cytotoxic lymphocytes, and an imbalance in production of interleukin-12 isoforms including Type I/II interferons (IFNs) is thought to play a major role in this process. The recent discovery of an immunomodulating lipidic peptide, designated IK14004, that activates natural killer (NK) and CD8+ T cells, skews IL-12 signalling towards the IL-12p70 isoform and uncouples production of Type I from Type II IFNs may enable earlier diagnosis of endometriosis and could also have therapeutic benefit.