Shikonin inhibits the chemotaxis of monocytes in endometriosis via regulating RANTES expression

Objective:To evaluate the effect of shikonin on the expression of RANTES and chemotactic activity of monocyte in endometriosis.Methods:Established SCID endometriosis models and cultured U937 cells were treated by a series of concentration of shikonin.RANTES transcriptive expression was determined by Real-time PCR,and RANTES secretion was determined by ELISA.Furthermore,Chemotaxis assay in vitro was conducted to elucidate the effect of shikonin on chemotaxis of U937 cells by RANTES.Results:Shikonin improved the RANTES transcription of human endometrium transplanted to SCID mouse(P0.05),whereas only low-dose shikonin promoted the RANTES secretion (P0.05).In vitro study of U937 cells,it was showed that shikonin reduced RANTES expression at both mRNA and protein level,and inhibited obviously the chemotactic effect of rhRANTES on U937 cells(P0.05).Conclusion:Shikonin down-regulates RANTES expression and further inhibits the migration of mononuclear cells,which might lead to alleviating inflammation of endometriosis.Shikonin may be a useful new approach to treating endometriosis.