Peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis promotes proliferation of endometrial stromal cells and induces COX-2 expression

Fertil Steril. 2011 Apr;95(5):1836-8. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.11.039. Epub 2010 Dec 10.

Abstract

Cell proliferation of endometrial stromal cells treated with peritoneal fluid of women (aged 25 to 43 years) with endometriosis (n = 12) statistically significantly increased compared with the control treatment (peritoneal fluid of women without endometriosis, n = 8). Also, COX-2 gene expression and prostaglandin E(2) production were induced in those cells by increasing COX-2 promoter transcription activity, which could be attenuated by a specific p38MAPK inhibitor, suggesting a role for peritoneal fluid in the etiopathogenesis of endometriosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Ascitic Fluid / pathology
  • Ascitic Fluid / physiology*
  • Cell Proliferation* / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / pharmacology
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / genetics*
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
  • Endometriosis / pathology*
  • Endometrium / cytology
  • Endometrium / drug effects
  • Endometrium / metabolism
  • Endometrium / physiology*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Peritoneal Diseases / pathology*
  • Prostaglandins / metabolism
  • Stromal Cells / drug effects
  • Stromal Cells / metabolism
  • Stromal Cells / physiology*
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects

Substances

  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Prostaglandins
  • Cyclooxygenase 2