Activin A stimulates interleukin 8 and vascular endothelial growth factor release from cultured human endometrial stromal cells: possible implications for the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Activin A is an endometrial secretory product involved in inflammation and angiogenesis. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of activin A and its antagonist follistatin on interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and release from cultured human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) from women with and without endometriosis.

METHODS:

The HESCs were collected from women with endometriosis (n = 6) and controls (n = 6). Primary cultures were treated with activin A at different doses or activin A plus follistatin. The IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF messenger RNA expression was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction and protein release was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS:

Unstimulated HESC from women with endometriosis secreted more IL-6 and IL-8 than controls. The addition of activin A increased IL-8 and VEGF secretion in HESC from controls and decreased IL-6 and IL-8 secretion in HESC from women with endometriosis. These effects were counteracted by follistatin.

CONCLUSION:

Activin A regulates the expression and secretion of IL-8 and VEGF in cultured HESC, and this mechanism appears to be disrupted in eutopic endometrial cells from women affected by endometriosis.

• Authors: Ana Luiza L Rocha, Patrizia Carrarelli, Romina Novembri, Flavio de Pascalis, Stefano Luisi, Fernando M Reis, Felice Petraglia
• Journal: Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) (Reprod Sci) Vol. 19 Issue 8 Pg. 832-8 (Aug 2012) ISSN: 1933-7205 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22477338 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Follistatin
• Interleukin-6
• Interleukin-8
• RNA, Messenger
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• activin A
• Activins

Topics

• Activins (antagonists & inhibitors, pharmacology)
• Adult
• Cells, Cultured
• Endometriosis (etiology, metabolism)
• Endometrium (chemistry, drug effects, metabolism)
• Female
• Follistatin (pharmacology)
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Humans
• Interleukin-6 (genetics, metabolism)
• Interleukin-8 (genetics, metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (analysis)
• Stromal Cells (drug effects, metabolism)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (genetics, metabolism)