Endostatin Gene Therapy for Endometriosis in Rats

endometriosis was studied in an experimental autotransplantation model in rats. METHODS: Endometriotic lesions were transfected by intralesional injection of the plasmid lipofectamine–endostatin-pBud (group 1), lipofectamine–pBud (empty vector; group 2) or phosphate-buffered saline (group 3). Endostatin mRNA and protein levels in lesions were evaluated by quantitative real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Endostatin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein levels in serum, and microvessel density (MVD) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 protein levels in endometriotic lesions, were also determined. RESULTS: Lipofectamine– endostatin-pBud injection increased endostatin mRNA and protein levels in lesions. Lesions were significantly smaller, and serum VEGF levels significantly lower, in group 1 versus controls. Serum VEGF was significantly and negatively correlated with serum endostatin. In group 1, MMP-2 levels and MVD were significantly lower versus controls. MMP-2 level was negatively correlated with endostatin. CONCLUSIONS: Gene therapy with endostatin appears to be an effective treatment for endometriosis. Restoration of endostatin gene expression by gene transfer in vivo might be a potential gene therapy approach for human endometriosis.