Estrogen Stimulates Homing of Endothelial Progenitor Cells to Endometriotic Lesions

Jeannette Rudzitis-Auth, Jeannette Rudzitis‐Auth, Rudzitis-Auth J, Nenicu A, Anca Nenicu, Ruth M Nickels, Nickels RM, Menger MD, Michael D. Menger, Matthias W. Laschke
The American Journal of Pathology · 2016 · vol. 186(8) , pp. 2129–2142 · doi:10.1016/j.ajpath.2016.04.004 · PMID:27315780 · W2440036921
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Estrogen administration promoted endothelial progenitor cells to migrate and engraft within endometriotic lesions, suggesting a role for estrogen in lesion neovascularization.

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Abstract

The incorporation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) into microvessels contributes to the vascularization of endometriotic lesions. Herein, we analyzed whether this vasculogenic process is regulated by estrogen. Estrogen- and vehicle-treated human EPCs were analyzed for migration and tube formation. Endometriotic lesions were induced in irradiated FVB/N mice, which were reconstituted with bone marrow from FVB/N-TgN (Tie2/green fluorescent protein) 287 Sato mice. The animals were treated with 100 μg/kg β-estradiol 17-valerate or vehicle (control) over 7 and 28 days. Lesion growth, cyst formation, homing of green fluorescent protein(+)/Tie2(+) EPCs, vascularization, cell proliferation, and apoptosis were analyzed by high-resolution ultrasonography, caliper measurements, histology, and immunohistochemistry. Numbers of blood circulating EPCs were assessed by flow cytometry. In vitro, estrogen-treated EPCs exhibited a higher migratory and tube-forming capacity when compared with controls. In vivo, numbers of circulating EPCs were not affected by estrogen. However, estrogen significantly increased the number of EPCs incorporated into the lesions' microvasculature, resulting in an improved early vascularization. Estrogen further stimulated the growth of lesions, which exhibited massively dilated glands with a flattened layer of stroma. This was mainly because of an increased glandular secretory activity, whereas cell proliferation and apoptosis were not markedly affected. These findings indicate that vasculogenesis in endometriotic lesions is dependent on estrogen, which adds a novel hormonally regulated mechanism to the complex pathophysiology of endometriosis.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endothelial Progenitor Cells Estradiol Neovascularization, Pathologic Animals Cell Movement Cell Movement Cell Movement Disease Models, Animal Endometriosis Endothelial Progenitor Cells Endothelial Progenitor Cells Estradiol Estradiol Estradiol Estrogens Estrogens Estrogens Female Flow Cytometry

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