The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Printed in U.S.A. Copyright © 2000 by The Endocrine Society Identification of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor as a Potent Endothelial Cell Growth-Promoting

The growth of endometrial cells in ectopic locations (endometriosis) is dependent on the establishment of an adequate blood supply. Neovascularization (angiogenesis) is therefore a vital step toward the progression of this disease. We first revealed the presence of a potent mitogenic activity for human endothelial cells in the culture medium of immortalized human endometriotic cells. The activity, measured by the level of [ 3 H]-thymidine incorporation into the DNA of human coronary artery endothelial cells, was then purified by anion exchange high-performance liquid chromatography. Electrophoretic analysis of one of the bioactive fractions that markedly enhanced endothelial cell proliferation showed three distinct bands with apparent molecular masses of 15.8, 12.6, and 6.5 kDa. N-terminal microsequencing of an internal peptide from the 12.6-kDa protein showed 100 % homology ENDOMETRIOSIS IS ONE of the most common gynecological