Interleukin-1β induces cyclooxygenase-2 expression and promotes the invasive ability of human mesenchymal stem cells derived from ovarian endometrioma

Objective: To elucidate the role of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and invasion of endometrioma-derived ectopic endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (EN-MSCs) and to develop an organoid method to study the invasive ability of endometrial cells. Design: Gene expression and cell functions. Setting: Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Patient(s): Human eutopic and endometrioma-derived ectopic EN-MSCs were isolated from different endometrium biopsy samples after surgery for treatment of endometriosis. Intervention(s): Chemical treatment of cell culture. Main Outcome Measure(s): Comparative analysis of genomewide messenger RNA (mRNA) expression, cell migration, and invasion abilities in cell culture and organoid culture. Result(s): Gene expression profiles revealed that the expression of IL-1 beta and COX-2 were statistically significantly higher in ectopic EN-MSCs compared with eutopic EN-MSCs. These enhanced expressions coincided with a greater ability for cell migration and invasion in ectopic EN-MSCs and were found to be distinctly regulated by IL-1 beta which up-regulates COX-2 expression. Furthermore, IL-1 beta treatment of ectopic EN-MSCs in organoids was found to induce tentacle-like structures that mimicked cell invasion. Conclusion(s): These results indicate that COX-2 and IL-1 beta regulate the invasion ability of ectopic EN-MSCs. The information may be useful for developing a new therapeutic strategy for endometriosis. The ex vivo invasion model will be useful for characterization of EN-MSCs. (Fertil Steril (R) 2011;96:678-84. (C)2011 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)