Effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids on secretory phospholipase A2\ntype IIa in ectopic endometrial cells

Background: Endometriosis is a common chronic inflammation which leads\nto infertility and chronic pelvic pain in affected women. Secretory\nphospholipase A2 type IIa (sPLA2IIa) is an acute phase reactant that is\nmarkedly increased in inflammatory disorders. Objective: To assess the\neffects of ω-3 and ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)\nadministration in endometrial cells culture on sPLA2IIa level and cell\nsurvival comparing homolog ectopic versus eutopic endometrial cells\nfrom endometriosis patients. Materials and Methods: In this\nexperimental study, ectopic and eutopic endometrial tissue samples\nobtained from 15 endometriosis patients were immediately frozen. After\nthawing and tissue digestion, mixed stromal and endometrial gland cells\nwere cultured for 8 days in three different culture media; balanced\nω-3/ω-6, high ω-3 and high ω-6 PUFAs ratio. Cell\nsurvival was measured using 2, 3-bis\n(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-(phenylamino) carbonyl-2H-\ntetrazolium hydroxide (XTT) method and sPLA2IIa level assessed with\nELISA technique. Results: The sPLA2IIa level was significantly higher\nin the ectopic endometrial cell culture compared to the eutopic group\nfor each of the three matched treatments (balanced, high ω-3 and\nhigh ω-6). Also the sPLA2IIa level in the ectopic endometrial cell\ngroup was remarkably increased by each of the three PUFAs treatments\ncompared to control condition (p <0.05, p <0.01, p <0.05\nrespectively). Cell survival in the eutopic group was significantly\ndecreased by high ω-6 culturing compared to control medium (p\n<0.05). Conclusion: The increase in sPLA2IIa level in ectopic\nendometrial cells by fatty acid treatments (especially high ω-3),\nstrengthens the hypothesis that PUFAs stimulate secretion of cytokines\nleading to increased sPLA2IIa level.