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Updated: Mar 27, 2026
Isolation of Human Endometrial Stromal Cells for In Vitro Decidualization
Published on: September 1, 2018
Resveratrol Enhances Apoptosis in Endometriotic Stromal Cells
Ayumi Taguchi1, Kaori Koga1, Kei Kawana1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Problem:
Resistance to apoptosis, together with inflammatory and invasive activity, contributes to the pathogenesis of endometriosis; therefore, approaches that can safely enhance apoptosis in endometriotic tissue are highly sought after as a means of managing the disease. Although resveratrol (RVT) is known to induce apoptosis or increase sensitivity to apoptotic stimuli in various cancer cell types, its effect on human endometriosis has remained uncertain. This study aimed to investigate whether RVT induces or enhances apoptosis in human endometriotic stromal cells (ESCs).
Method Of Study:
Endometriotic tissues were collected, during laparoscopies, from women affected by ovarian endometriosis. ESCs were prepared, cultured, and treated with RVT. Apoptosis was assessed by annexin V-PI staining. Survivin mRNA expression in ESCs was examined using RT-PCR. ESCs were pre-treated with or without RVT and then incubated with TNF-α-related-apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), which is a known pro-apoptotic molecule.
Results:
RVT alone did not induce apoptosis in ESCs. RVT significantly reduced survivin mRNA expression (P < 0.05). Pre-treatment with RVT significantly enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis (8.13 ± 0.83% (control) versus 29.19 ± 7.39% (pre-treated with RVT), P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
This study indicates that RVT suppresses survivin expression and enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis in ESCs.
Insights
Resveratrol (RVT) does not induce apoptosis in human endometriotic stromal cells (ESCs) alone but enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis by suppressing survivin expression. This finding suggests RVT as a potential therapeutic agent for endometriosis.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Cellular biology
- Molecular medicine
Background:
- Endometriosis pathogenesis involves resistance to apoptosis, inflammation, and invasion.
- Resveratrol (RVT) is known to induce apoptosis in cancer cells, but its effect on endometriosis is unclear.
- Targeting apoptosis in endometriotic stromal cells (ESCs) is a promising therapeutic strategy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of resveratrol (RVT) on apoptosis in human endometriotic stromal cells (ESCs).
- To determine if RVT can induce or enhance apoptosis in ESCs, potentially as a treatment for endometriosis.
Main Methods:
- Endometriotic tissues were collected from women with ovarian endometriosis.
- Endometriotic stromal cells (ESCs) were isolated, cultured, and treated with RVT.
- Apoptosis was assessed using annexin V-PI staining, and survivin mRNA expression was measured by RT-PCR.
- ESCs were pre-treated with RVT and then exposed to TNF-α-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL).
Main Results:
- Resveratrol (RVT) alone did not induce apoptosis in ESCs.
- RVT significantly reduced survivin mRNA expression in ESCs (P < 0.05).
- Pre-treatment with RVT significantly enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis in ESCs (from 8.13% to 29.19%, P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Resveratrol (RVT) suppresses survivin expression in human endometriotic stromal cells (ESCs).
- RVT enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis in ESCs, indicating a potential therapeutic role.
- These findings suggest RVT as a potential agent for managing endometriosis by promoting apoptosis.
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