Activin A increases invasiveness of endometrial cells in an in vitro model of human peritoneum.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether activin A has an effect on the attachment and/or invasion of endometrial cells in a modeled peritoneum in vitro. Cultured endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) and endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) were treated with activin A (6.25-50 ng/ml) and with activin A (25 ng/ml) with and without inhibin A or follistatin. Fluorescent labeled cells were added to confluent peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs) and to a monolayer of confluent PMCs grown in a Matrigel invasion assay. The rate of endometrial cell attachment and invasion through PMCs was assessed. The expression of cell adhesion proteins N- and E-cadherin was evaluated with real-time RT-PCR. Activin A (25 ng/ml) promoted invasion of the endometrial cells through the modeled peritoneum (>2-fold versus control) and this effect was partially reversed by inhibin A and follistatin. Activin A had no effect on the rate of attachment of the endometrial cells to the PMCs or in the rate of proliferation. In addition, activin A induced a decreased mRNA expression of E-cadherin in cultured EECs. In conclusion, activin A increases invasion of EECs and ESCs into modeled peritoneum. In EECs, this effect may be related to down-regulation of E-cadherin expression. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the role of activin-A in the genesis of the endometriotic lesion.
Ferreira
M C
MC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Witz
C A
CA
Hammes
L S
LS
Kirma
N
N
Petraglia
F
F
Schenken
R S
RS
Reis
F M
FM
D029404:Activin Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D028341:Activins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
D015703:Antigens, CD; C050361:CDH2 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C422405:activin A; D028341:Activins; D029404:Activin Receptors