title: Co-culture with macrophages enhances the clonogenic and invasion activity of endometriotic stromal cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect on endometrial and endometriotic cells after co-culture with macrophages, using clonogenic, invasion and self-renewal assays.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood samples, endometrium and endometriotic tissues were collected. Autologous macrophages were co-cultured with endometrial and endometriotic cells. The number of colony-forming units (CFU), invasiveness and self-renewal activity after co-culture with macrophages were determined. The cytokine level of colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) from macrophages with and without endometriosis was compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Co-culture with macrophages significantly increased the clonogenic and invasion ability of endometriotic stromal cells in vitro. Colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) was up-regulated in endometriotic macrophages conditioned medium when compared to those without the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that macrophages may increase the proliferation and invasion activity of stromal clonogenic cells in women with endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.|Centre of Reproduction, Development of Growth, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Rachel W S
authors.initials: RWS
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.|Centre of Reproduction, Development of Growth, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Cheuk-Lun
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.|Centre of Reproduction, Development of Growth, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Ernest H Y
authors.initials: EHY
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.|Centre of Reproduction, Development of Growth, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: William S B
authors.initials: WSB
authors.lastname: Yeung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002465:Cell Movement; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology*