The nuclear factor-kB functional promoter polymorphism is associated with endometriosis and infertility

Abstract Introduction An aberrant immunologic mechanism has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) plays a key role in the immune and inflammatory response and modulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion, invasion, and angiogenesis in many cell types involved in the development of endometriosis. We hypothesized a possible relationship between the NFKB1 promoter regulatory polymorphism and endometriosis and/or infertility. Methods A genetic association study comprising 172 infertile women with endometriosis, 77 women with idiopathic infertility and 189 controls was performed. Detection of the −94 insertion/deletion ATTG (rs28362491) polymorphism in the NFKB1 gene was done using the RFLP–PCR (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism–Polymerase Chain Reaction) technique. The results were statistically analyzed, and a p -value