The effects of TNF-α and sTNFRI on stormal cells of endometriosis

Objective:To explore the effects of TNF-α and sTNFRⅠ on cultured eutopic endometrial stroma cells from endometriosis patients and find new biological therapy to endometriosis. Methods:Stroma cells from eutopic endometrium were cultured in vitro. TNF-α(0,0.1,1,10,and 100 ng/ml) was added to the medium in dose-responds experiment. TNF-alpha(1 ng/ml) was added for 0,4,8,12,24,48 and 72 hours in time-course experiment. TNF-α(0.1,1 and 10 ng/ml) and sTNFRⅠ(2 μg/ml) were added for 12 hours. Then the supernatant were collected to evaluate the productions of IL-6 and MMP-3. Results:The productions of IL-6 and MMP-3 in the supernatant of stroma cells from endometriosis were promoted by TNF-alpha in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The productions of IL-6 and MMP-3 in the supernatant of stroma cells from endometriosis were promoted by TNF-alpha were decreased by sTNFRⅠ. Conclusion:TNF-α may promote the attachment and invade of stroma cells from women with endometriosis though inducing the expression of IL-6 and MMP-3 and play a central role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. sTNFRⅠ may be the potential target for biological therapy to endometriosis.