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Novel Implications in the Development of Endometriosis: Biphasic Effect of Macrophage Activation on Peritoneal Tissue Expression of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase‐1
Author(s) -
Nothnick Warren B.,
Soloway Paul D.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.1998.tb00067.x
Subject(s) - peritoneum , peritoneal cavity , endometriosis , tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase , lipopolysaccharide , macrophage , andrology , immune system , medicine , matrix metalloproteinase , northern blot , endocrinology , immunology , biology , gene expression , pathology , in vitro , biochemistry , anatomy , gene
PROBLEM: Elevated levels of activated macrophages are associated with endometriosis, but their role in the etiology of the disease is uncertain. The current study was undertaken to examine whether activated macrophages could modulate peritoneal tissue expression of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐1 (TIMP‐1), which may play a role in the development of endometriosis. METHOD OF STUDY: Female mice were treated with the macrophage activator lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and peritoneum TIMP‐1 mRNA was examined by Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: LPS induced a dose‐dependent increase ( P < 0.05) in TIMP‐1 mRNA expression at levels of 1 μg (70.0% ± 5.8% greater than the control), 10 μg (83.0% ± 12.0% greater than the control), and 25 μg (100.0% ± 10.0% greater than the control). In contrast, the administration of 50 μg of LPS resulted in a decrease in TIMP‐1 mRNA expression below baseline levels (18.0% ± 6.0% less than the control values). CONCLUSIONS: Activated macrophages and/or their products modulate peritoneum TIMP‐1 expression. These data suggest that, in addition to their phagocytotic role in the peritoneal cavity, these immune cells also may play a novel role in influencing the ability of the peritoneum to regulate tissue/cell invasion and in the development of endometriosis through TIMP‐1 expression.