EFFECTS OF IL-8 AND IFN-α ON CULTURED ECTOPIC ENDOMETRIAL CELLS

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of interleukin 8 (IL 8) and interferon (IFN) alpha on proliferation of ectopic endometrial cells in vitro . Methods Ectopic endometrial cells from women suffering from endometriosis were cultured, purified, and identified by immunocytochemistry. Cultured endometrial cells were treated with IL 8 and IFN α 2b in various concentrations in 96 well plates (IL 8 in 0 1ng/ml, 1ng/ml, 5ng/ml, 10ng/ml, 50ng/ml, IFN α in 10U/ml, 50U/ml, 100U/ml, 1 000U/ml, 10 000U/ml). The effects of IL 8 and IFN α 2b on endometrial cell proliferation were assessed using MTT. The ultrastructural changes in endometrial cells, which were incubated in medium containing 1ng/ml of IL 8, were observed with transmission electron microscopy. Results The data suggested that there was a dose dependent stimulatory effect of IL 8 on cell proliferation. IL 8 could stimulate proliferation of endometrial cells, and the most effective concentration was 10ng/ml ( P 0 05). At the concentration of 1ng/ml IL 8, endometrial cells showed a high secretory activity and produced collagen at 24 hours of culture. On the other hand, IFN α 2b at a concentration of 10 000U/ml could significantly inhibit the proliferation of endometrial cells ( P 0 05). Conclusions Our findings confirmed the effects of IL 8 and IFN α 2b on endometrial cells, and indicated that IL 8 could induce collagen secretion from endometrial cells, which might play an important role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. IL 8 might participate in the pathogenesis of endometriosis by autocrine or paracrine. IFN α 2b was a positive immuno modulatory factor, and it could modify the immune system in patients with endometriosis. Imunostimulative therapy may be a potential new method for the treatment of endometriosis