title: Endometriosis-Derived Stromal Cells Secrete Thrombin and Thromboxane A2, Inducing Platelet Activation.
abstract: Platelets have been recently revealed to play important roles in the development of endometriosis. However, it is unclear whether endometriotic lesions can secrete any platelet inducers outside the menstruation window. Hence, this study was undertaken to see whether endometriosis-derived stromal cells secrete platelet activators and cause platelet activation. We employed in vitro experimentation using primary ectopic endometrial stromal cells (EESCs) and platelets from healthy male volunteers and evaluated the extent of platelet aggregation by aggregometer and the platelet activation rate by flow cytometry using supernatants harvested from EESCs of different cell densities. We also measured the concentration of thromboxane B2 (TXB2), a metabolite of thromboxane A2 (TXA2), and thrombin activity in supernatants harvested from EESCs of different densities and evaluated the extent of platelet aggregation after treatment of EESCs with hirudin, Ozagrel, and apyrase. Finally, the concentration of TXB2, thrombin, and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in platelets cocultured with different densities of EESCs is measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We found that EESCs secrete thrombin and TXA2 and induce platelet activation and aggregation in a density-dependent fashion. Treatment of platelets with EESCs resulted in increased concentration of TXB2, thrombin, and TGF-β1 in a density-dependent manner. Treatment of EESCs with hirudin and Ozagrel, but not apyrase, resulted in significant suppression of platelet aggregation. Thus, given recently reported effects of activated platelets on the cell behaviors of EESCs and endometriotic lesions in general, our findings establish that endometriotic lesions and platelets engage active cross-talks in the development of endometriosis, highlighting the importance of lesion microenvironment in endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, China hoxa10@outlook.com.
authors.forename: Sun-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yanbo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Diseases, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xishi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015539:Platelet Activation; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D013917:Thrombin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013929:Thromboxane B2; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D013917:Thrombin
keywords: activation; endometriosis; platelet; thrombin; thromboxane A2