Experimental endometriosis in immunocompromised mice after adoptive transfer of human leukocytes.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a chimeric human/mouse model of experimental endometriosis for the examination of the role of human immune cells in this disease.


METHODS
Laboratory-based study.


METHODS
University-affiliated medical center.


METHODS
Healthy women undergoing volunteer endometrial biopsies and blood donation.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
In vivo analysis of the impact of the adoptive transfer of human immune cells into immunocompromised mice receiving autologous human endometrium.


RESULTS
Similar to our previous data using nude mice, human endometrial tissue fragments injected intraperitoneally into rag2gamma(c) mice readily established experimental disease. However, in this study, we found a statistically significant reduction in the severity of peritoneal disease in rag2gamma(c) mice which also received adoptive transfer of human immune cells compared with mice that did not receive immune cells. Our studies indicate that human immune cells readily track into the ectopic lesions established in mice.


CONCLUSIONS
The ability of immune cells from disease-free women to limit intraperitoneal disease in mice suggests that a robust immune system is protective against the development of endometriosis.
Bruner-Tran
Kaylon L
KL
Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA. kaylon.bruner-tran@vanderbilt.edu
Carvalho-Macedo
Alessandra C
AC
Duleba
Antoni J
AJ
Crispens
Marta A
MA
Osteen
Kevin G
KG
D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000235:genetics*; D053631:Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit / Q000172:deficiency; D017708:Leukocyte Transfusion; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C507942:Il2rg protein, mouse; D053631:Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit; C499308:Rag2 protein, mouse