A. Boucher et al., Effect of hormonal agents on monocyte chemotactic protein-1 expression by endometrial epithelial cells of women with endometriosis, FERT STERIL, 74(5), 2000, pp. 969-975
Objective: To assess whether hormonal agents used in the medical treatment
of endometriosis, such as danazol and GnRH agonist, exert direct regulatory
action on monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-I) expression by endometrial
epithelial cells.
Design: Primary cultures of epithelial cells isolated from human endometriu
m were exposed to different concentrations of cytokines and steroid hormone
analogs. Expression of MCP-1 was analyzed at the levels of protein and mes
senger RNA. Setting: Gynecology clinic and laboratory of endocrinology of r
eproduction.
Patient(s): Women presenting for infertility or pelvic pain in whom endomet
riosis was diagnosed by using laparoscopy.
Intervention(s): Endometrial tissue biopsy performed at laparoscopy.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Secretion of MCP-1 protein was measured by using e
nzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and mRNA steady-state levels were measure
d by performing Northern blot analysis.
Results: Buserelin acetate, a GnRH agonist (0.1-10 ng/mL), had no significa
nt effect on MCP-1 expression, whereas danazol (10(-7)-10(-5) M), a testost
erone analog, and dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid hormon
e (10(-12)-10(-6) M), showed a direct and a dose-dependent inhibitory effec
t on MCP-1 expression. This effect occurred at the level of protein and mRN
A.
Conclusion(s): The findings of the study may affect understanding of the me
chanisms by which hormonal treatments act on endometriosis and influence it
s clinical manifestations. (C) 894 by American Society for Reproductive Med
icine.