Effects of thalidomide on vascular endothelial growth factors expression in endometrial stromal cells of endometriosis in vitro

AIM:To observe the effects of thalidomide (ThD) on cell proliferation and vascular endothe- lial growth factors (VEGF) expression in endometrial stromal cell of endometriosis in vitro.METHODS:Human endometrial tissue was obtained from patients with endometriosis.The stromal celXs were isolated and identified by immunohistochemical staining with vimentin antibody.The influence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and ThD on proliferation of endometrial stromal cells was observed.The effects of different concentration of ThD on VEGF expression in endometrial stromal cells were analyzed by real-time PCR,Western Blot and ELISA. RESULTS:TNF-αcould promote the proliferation of endometrial stromal cell and the secretion of VEGF,while ThD could inhibit the proliferation of endometrial stromal cell and reverse the up-regulation of VEGF expression by TNF-α.CONCLUSION:ThD could inhibit the proliferation of endometrial stromal cell and expression and secretion of VEGF in vitro,which suggested that ThD might have therapeutic effect on endometriosis.