Effects of peritoneal macrophages from women with endometriosis on endometrial cellular proliferation in an in vitro coculture model

Objective: To study the effects of peritoneal macrophages on endometrial ce llular proliferation in an in vitro coculture model and to compare the magn itude of these effects between macrophages from women with endometriosis an d normal women. Design: Controlled study of peritorneal macrophage function. Setting: University hospital. Patient(s): Patients with a normal peritoneal cavity (n = 15) and with pelv ic endometriosis (n = 20) undergoing laparoscopy. Intervention(s): Peritoneal macrophages were cocultured with endometrial ep ithelial and stromal cells; endometrial cell cultures without macrophage co culture acted as controls. Main Outcome Measure(s): Endometrial cellular proliferation measured by H-3 -thymidine incorporation. Result(s): Endometrial epithelial cells cocultured with peritoneal macropha ges from women with endometriosis showed significantly increased proliferat ion compared with cocultures using macrophages from normal women when asses sed at 24 hours (1.56 versus 1.03 times, respectively, over control) and at 72 hours (1.55 versus 1.10 times over control). Endometrial stromal cells cocultured with peritoneal macrophages from women with endometriosis simila rly exhibited increased proliferation compared with cocultures using macrop hages from normal women when assessed at 24 hours (1.65 versus 1.17 times o ver control) and at 72 hours (1.65 versus 1.21 times over control). Conclusion(s): Peritoneal macrophages of patients with endometriosis stimul ate cellular proliferation of endometrial epithelial and stromal cells in v itro. (Fertil Steril(R) 1999;72:533-8. (C) 1999 by American Society for Rep roductive Medicine.).