Heparin-sepharose binding growth factors in peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize and to purify the growth substances for mouse embryo fibroblasts (NIH/3T3) and endometrial-like cells of the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis.


METHODS
A pool of 102 mL of peritoneal fluid (PF) collected from 24 women with laparoscopic evidence of endometriosis was dialyzed and thereafter chromatographed onto carboxymethyl (CM)-sepharose, heparin-sepharose, cartridges of C18 silica, and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (reverse-phase HPLC). Mitogenic activity throughout various steps of chromatography was monitored by the increase of the (3H)-thymidine incorporation into NIH/3T3 fibroblasts and enzymatically isolated epithelial cells of rabbit endometrium.


RESULTS
Peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis contained mitogen(s) for NIH/3T3 fibroblasts that were retained on and eluted from CM-sepharose, heparin-sepharose, cartridges of C18 silica, and reverse-phase HPLC columns performed sequentially. Mitogenic material purified 2,500-fold exerted bioactivity on NIH/3T3 and the enzymatically isolated epithelial cells from rabbit endometrium.


CONCLUSIONS
Peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis contains heparin-binding growth factors that can be purified by sequential chromatography on CM-sepharose, heparin-sepharose, and reverse-phase HPLC columns. The presence in the PF of potent mitogens for fibroblasts and endometrium-derived epithelial cells could play an important role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
Koutsilieris
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Laval University, Quebec, Canada.
Niklinski
W
W
Frenette
G
G
Lemay
A
A
D016475:3T3 Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism*; D006493:Heparin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008934:Mitogens / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D012685:Sepharose / Q000378:metabolism*
D006133:Growth Substances; D008934:Mitogens; D006493:Heparin; D012685:Sepharose