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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
Establishing 3D Endometrial Organoids from the Mouse Uterus
Published on: January 6, 2023
Endometriotic epithelial cells induce MMPs expression in endometrial stromal cells via an NFkappaB-dependent pathway
Hui Zhang1, Mingjiang Li, Fuling Wang
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
Objective:
To explore the stroma-epithelium interactions in endometriosis and to identify the possible signalling pathways involved in this cross-talk.
Design:
Laboratory study via primary cultured endometrial stromal and epithelial cells.
Setting:
University Hospital.
Patients:
Fifteen patients with endometriosis confirmed by histopathology were recruited in the study, and 12 women free of endometriosis were used as control group.
Intervention(S):
Specific NFkappaB inhibitor 1-Pyrrolidinecarbodithioic acid ammonium salt (PDTC) was used in cell cultures.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
The expression and secretion of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and the DNA-binding activity of NFkappaB in normal endometrial stromal cells or in co-cultures with normal or endometriotic epithelial cells from patients with endometriosis.
Result(S):
Endometrial epithelial cells induced MMP-9 and MMP-2 expression in normal stromal cells in vitro. In co-cultures with endometriotic epithelial cells, normal endometrial stromal cells expressed and secreted higher MMP-2 (p < 0.05) and MMP-9 (p < 0.05). Specific inhibition of NFkappaB pathway in stromal cells abolished this induction effect by epithelial cells.
Conclusion(S):
Endometriotic epithelial cells induce MMPs expression and secretion in normal endometrial stromal cells via an NFkappaB-dependent pathway in vitro. This cross-talk between epithelial cells and stromal cells may facilitate the implantation and extension of the ectopic foci and favour the development of the disease.
