The Study Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor And Interferon-α Secreted From Monocyte-Macrophage In Endometriosis

Objective: In this study, the concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and interferon- a (IFN- a ) in the supernatant ofperitoneal fluid macrophage and peripheral blood monocyte of endometriosis patients were assessed, to explore the role of macrophage and monocyte in the pathogenesis of endometriosis angiogenesis and their effect on the development and progression of endometriosis.Methods: 20 women with histopathological diagnosedendometriosis after operation at stage II-IV according to the criteria byRevised American Fertility Society were selected as endometriosis group, 15 women with leiomyoma or benign ovarian tumor were selected as control group. Isolated and cultured their peritoneal fluid macrophage and peripheral blood monocyte respectively, after 48-72hours incubation,the concentrations of VEGF and IFN- a in culture media were determinedby enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) .Result: The mean VEGF concentration in peritoneal fluidmacrophage supernatant of endometriosis group is 40849.5 5367.5pg/ml,siginificant higher than 37275.8 3178.1pg/ml of controlgroup (P<0.05). There is cyclic variation of VEGF concentration secreted from peritoneal fluid macrophage in endometriosis, significant higher in proliferative phase than in secretory phase(P<0.05), but no phase of cycle dependent variation was found in controls. Compared with the concentration of VEGF secreted from peritoneal fluid macrophage in these 2 groups, endometriosis group has a significant higher level thancontrol group in proliferative phase(P<0.05), but no difference was found in secretory phase. The VEGF concentrations in peripheral bloodmonocyte supernatant of endo metric sis and control groups were 26004.1 7482.4pg/ml and 24480.5 7168.0pg/ml respectively, showed a trendof elevation in endometriosis group, but without statistic significance between groups(P>0.05): The VEGF concentrations in peritoneal fluid macrophage and peripheral blood monocyte supernatanst of endometriosis increased with the increase of clinical stage, but there was no significant difference (P>0.05). Peritoneal fluid macrophage secretes much more VEGF than peripheral blood monocyte in both groups(P<0.01). Both the level and the positive rate of IFN-a secretion byperitoneal fluid macrophage and peripheral blood monocyte were low in these 2 groups, and no significant difference was shown(P>0.05).Conclusion: The ability of endometriosis peritoneal fluid macrophage secreting VEGF was obviously enhanced, but the secretionof IFN- a was low. It is indicated that peritoneal fluid macrophage showsstrong activity to promote angiogenesis in angiogenic control, and without obvious effect on anti-angiogenesis in endometriosis. The increasing angiogenesis activity of peritoneal fluid macrophage offers an advantageous milieu and necessary substance insurance for ectopic endometrium to adhesion, planting and growth, facilitate the occurrence and progress of endometriosis. Because the mainly pathological change was taken place within pelvic, so peripheral blood monocyte contributes little to the pathogenesis of endometriosis.