TGF-betas stimulate PAI-1 secretion of endometrial and endometriotic cells via Smad2/3 and ERK1/2

Objectives: In clinical trials, transforming growth factor betas (TGF-betas) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were observed to be highly expressed at endometriotic sites as well as in the peritoneal fluid or serum of patients who suffer from endometriosis. PAI-1 is one of the most important genes to test for upregulation of mRNA expression after treatment of cells with TGF-betas. Furthermore, PAI-1 might contribute to activation of latent TGF-betas via plasmin or is misregulated in cancer tissue, e.g. breast cancer. Thus, we have analyzed PAI-1 secretion in endometrial and endometriotic cells after treatment with TGF-betas and have measured PAI-1 serum levels in patients suffering from endometriosis.