{"paper_id":"a2c83f12-05ed-40ee-b1c7-435f2502743b","body_text":"Abstract\nBackground\nActivin 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.\nMethods\nThe 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.\nResults\nUnstimulated 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.\nConclusion\nActivin 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.\nSimilar content being viewed by others\nReferences\nJones KL, de Kretser DM, Patella S, Phillips DJ. Activin A and follistatin in systemic inflammation. Mol Cel Endoc. 2004; 225(1–2):119–125.\nPhillips DJ, de Kretser DM, Hedger MP. Activin and related proteins in inflammation: not just interested bystanders. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2009;20(2):153–164.\nBertolino P, Deckers M, Lebrin F, ten Dijke P. Transforming growth factor-beta signal transduction in angiogenesis and vascular disorders. 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Activin A Stimulates Interleukin 8 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Release From Cultured Human Endometrial Stromal Cells: Possible Implications for the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis. Reprod. Sci. 19, 832–838 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719111434542\nPublished:\nIssue date:\nDOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719111434542","source_license":"public-domain-us","license_restricted":false}