Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 27, 2013
Leptin promotes human endometriotic cell migration and invasion by up-regulating MMP-2 through the JAK2/STAT3
Ji-Hye Ahn1, Youn Seok Choi2, Jung-Hye Choi3
1Department of Life & Nanopharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea Division of Molecular Biology, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
Abstract:
Despite evidence that leptin may play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, the specific function of leptin in the migration and invasion of endometriotic cells is not well characterized. In this study, we investigated the effect of leptin on the migration, invasion and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression levels of human endometriotic cells. We found that leptin stimulated the migration and invasion of endometriotic cells (11Z, 12Z and 22B) in a dose-dependent manner. Leptin receptor (ObR) siRNA significantly inhibited the migration and invasion induced by leptin in 11Z and 12Z cells. Leptin-induced migration and invasion were significantly attenuated by pretreatment with SB-3CT, a specific gelatinase (MMP-2 and MMP-9) inhibitor. In addition, leptin-induced increases in the mRNA and protein expression and enzyme activity of MMP-2 in 11Z and 12Z cells. Selectively inhibiting MMP-2 using siRNA and an inhibitor (GM6003), impaired the ability of leptin to stimulate the migration and invasion of endometriotic cells, suggesting that MMP-2 plays an essential role in leptin-induced migration and invasion. Janus Kinase 2/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) inhibitor (AG490) significantly inhibited the migration, invasion and MMP-2 expression induced by leptin in endometriotic cells. Furthermore, the Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinase inhibitor PD98059 neutralized the migration and invasion promoting effects of leptin. Taken together, these results suggest that leptin may contribute to the migration and invasion abilities of endometriotic cells via the up-regulation of MMP-2 through an ObR-dependent JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway
Cell Migration
Cell Migration
Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway
MAPK Signaling Cascades

