The effects of leflunomide on endometriosis and its mechanism in rat model

This study is aimed to explore the action mechanism of immunomodulator leflunomide in the development of an experimental endometriosis model.Firstly,endometriosis(EMT) model was set up by surgically transplanting autologous fragments of endometrial tissue onto the inner surface of the abdominal wall and arterial cascades of the small intestines.With the application of Western blot method and RT-PCR method,we detected the expressions level of phosphorylation of STAT(p-STAT) protein and cell signaling inhibitory factor(SOCS)-1 mRNA in ectopic endometrium of rats with EM and controls.At the same time,we inspected the change of ectopic endometrium volume in rats,and found that the ectopic endometrium volume of treatment group and danazol rats was significantly decreased than that in control group(P 0.05).In leflunomide high-dosage group,the expression of p-STAT was lowered,the histopathological changes were improved,and the expression of SOCS-1 mRNA was increased significantly as compared with control group(P 0.05).From these results,we presumed that leflunomide can inhibit the ectopic endometrium volume of rats with endometriosis.Furthermore,leflunomide can inhibit the expression of p-STAT and prevent the excess activation of JAK/STAT signal transduction pathway,which may be one of the mechanisms for the therapeutic effects in the experimental endometriosis model.