Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of Activin A on the invasiveness, migration, adhesion and proliferation of endometrial cells, and explore the mechanism. Methods The endometrium in secretion phase was collected, primary endometrial cells were isolated and cultured, and endometrial stromal cells and endometrial epithelial cells were incubated with 0 ng/mL (control), 8 ng/mL, 16 ng/mL, 32 ng/mL and 64 ng/mL Activin A for 12 h. The effects of different concentrations of Activin A on the migration and invasiveness of endometrial stromal cells and endometrial epithelial cells were determined by in vitro scratch test and Transwell invasion test, the effects of 16 ng/mL Activin A on the proliferation and adhesion of endometrial stromal cells and endometrial epithelial cells were measured by CCK8 method, and the effects of 16 ng/mL Activin A on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) mRNA and VEGF-C mRNA in endometrial stromal cells and endometrial epithelial cells were detected by Real-Time PCR. Results In vitro scratch test revealed that the differences in areas of scratch of endometrial cells within 14 h in different concentrations Activin A groups were not significantly different from that in control group (P>0.05). Transwell invasion test indicated that the numbers of penetrating cells among endometrial stromal cells in 8 ng/mL, 16 ng/mL and 32 ng/mL Activin A treatment groups were significantly larger than that in control group (P<0.05), the numbers of penetrating cells among endometrial epithelial cells in 16 ng/mL and 32 ng/mL Activin A treatment groups were significantly larger than that in control group (P<0.05), and the number of penetrating cells was the largest in 16 ng/mL Activin A treatment group. The proliferation and adhesion of endometrial cells treated with 16 ng/mL Activin A were not significantly different from those of controls (P>0.05). The expression of VEGF-A mRNA and VEGF-C mRNA in endometrial stromal cells and endometrial epithelial cells treated with 16 ng/mL Activin A was not significantly different from that in controls (P>0.05). Conclusion Activin A can significantly increase the invasiveness of endometrial cells, while has no significant effect on the migration, proliferation and adhesion of endometrial cells. The increase of invasiveness of endometrial cells regulated by Activin A is not related to the regulation of expression of VEGF-A and VEGF-C in endometrial cells.

Key words: Activin A, endometriosis, invasion, vascular endothelial growth factor