Interleukin-4 induces expression of eotaxin in endometriotic stromal cells.

Objective: To study the relationship between eotaxin and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the pathophysiology of endometriosis.
Design: Comparative and laboratory study.
Setting: University teaching hospital reproductive endocrinology and infertility practice.
Patient(s): Ectopic endometrial tissues were collected from women with endometriosis.
Intervention(s): Ectopic endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) were isolated and cultured with IL-4. Ectopic endometriotic tissues were immunostained for eotaxin and IL-4.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Gene expression of eotaxin was determined by standard and real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Secretion of eotaxin from ESC was measured using specific ELISA. The immunostained sections were examined.
Result(s): Interleukin-4 (IL-4) increased mRNA expression and protein secretion of eotaxin from ESC in a dose-dependent manner. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that eotaxin-positive cells colocalized with IL-4-positive cells and accumulated around the blood vessels in the stroma of endometriotic tissue.
Conclusion(s): IL-4 induces eotaxin in ESCs, which might promote angiogenesis and the subsequent development of endometriosis.
(Copyright (c) 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)