Induction of peritoneal endometriosis in nude mice with use of human immortalized endometriosis epithelial and stromal cells: a potential experimental tool to study molecular pathogenesis of endometriosis in humans.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a mixed population of immortalized human endometriosis epithelial and stromal cells is able to induce peritoneal endometriosis in nude mice.


METHODS
Prospective experimental study. Human immortalized endometriosis epithelial and stromal cells were xenografted into ovariectomized nude mice. Macroscopically, the number of induced endometriosis-like lesions and their color were determined. Microscopically, histomorphology of endometriosis glands and their structure were analyzed, and comparisons were made with tissue from spontaneous endometriosis in women.


METHODS
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University.


METHODS
Seven ovariectomized nude mice.


METHODS
Minimal invasive procedures were performed to administer estrogen pellets and transplant immortalized human endometriosis epithelial and stromal cells into nude mice.


METHODS
Peritoneal endometriosis-like lesions induced in nude mice were characterized and compared with spontaneous peritoneal endometriosis in women.


RESULTS
Xenografts of human immortalized endometriosis epithelial and stromal cells into the peritoneal cavity of the recipient nude mice are able to proliferate, attach, invade, reorganize, and establish peritoneal endometriosis. Endometriosis glands at different stages of growth were present in induced endometriosis-like lesions. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen, metalloproteinase 2, estrogen receptor-alpha, cyclooxygenase-2, and prostaglandin E(2) receptors EP2 and EP4 proteins were expressed in both endometriosis glandular epithelial and stromal cells of the induced endometriosis-like lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
This xenograft model could be used as a potential experimental tool to understand the molecular and cellular aspects of the pathogenesis of endometriosis in humans.
Banu
Sakhila K
SK
Reproductive Endocrinology and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Department of Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA.
Starzinski-Powitz
Anna
A
Speights
V O
VO
Burghardt
Robert C
RC
Arosh
Joe A
JA
D000818:Animals; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000473:pathology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000473:pathology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
D004967:Estrogens; D004958:Estradiol