title: Activin A stimulates interleukin 8 and vascular endothelial growth factor release from cultured human endometrial stromal cells: possible implications for the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Activin A is an endometrial secretory product involved in inflammation and angiogenesis. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of activin A and its antagonist follistatin on interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and release from cultured human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) from women with and without endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The HESCs were collected from women with endometriosis (n = 6) and controls (n = 6). Primary cultures were treated with activin A at different doses or activin A plus follistatin. The IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF messenger RNA expression was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction and protein release was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Unstimulated HESC from women with endometriosis secreted more IL-6 and IL-8 than controls. The addition of activin A increased IL-8 and VEGF secretion in HESC from controls and decreased IL-6 and IL-8 secretion in HESC from women with endometriosis. These effects were counteracted by follistatin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Activin A regulates the expression and secretion of IL-8 and VEGF in cultured HESC, and this mechanism appears to be disrupted in eutopic endometrial cells from women affected by endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Ana Luiza L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carrarelli
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Novembri
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Pascalis
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luisi
authors.forename: Fernando M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petraglia
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D038681:Follistatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D038681:Follistatin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C422405:activin A; D028341:Activins