Expression of EGF and GM-CSF in ectopic stromal cells of endometrium suppressed by antiprogestins in vitro

The expression of EGF and GM-CSF in the culture supernatant and the GM-CSF mRNA in the ectopic stromal cells were significantly higher in the mifepristone group than that in the lilopristone group (P<0.05). While both the EGF and GM-CSF in the culture supernatant and the GM-CSF mRNA in the ectopic stromal cells were significantly higher in the control group containing no antiprogestins than that of groups containing 1×10~(-6) mol/L and 1×10~(-5) mol/L of antiprogestins. Mifepristone and lilopristone could down-regulate the expression of EGF and GM-CSF in ectopic stromal cells in vitro. Antiprogestins may suppress the proliferation of ectopic stromal cells of endometriosis according to this mechanism.