PROBLEM: How is the role of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) in the development of murine endometriosis lesions? METHOD OF STUDY: BALB/c female mice (n = 36) were used for the murine endometriosis model. Endometriotic lesions were surgically induced in mice by transplanting mouse uterine tissue. After 4 weeks of IAP antagonist (BV6) treatment, the expression of inflammatory factors in the implants was evaluated using real-time RT-PCR. Inflammatory state, angiogenic activity, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation were assessed by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The number, size, and level of inflammatory cytokines (Vegf, Il-6, Ccl-2, Lif) gene expression in the murine endometriosis-like lesions were reduced by BV6 treatment. BV6 repressed the intensity and rate of positive cells of CD3, F4/80, and PECAM immunostaining; in addition, the expression of NF-κB p65 and phospho-NF-κB p65 was also attenuated. CONCLUSION: Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins antagonist represses the inflammation status of murine endometriosis-like lesions viaNF-κB pathway. IAPs may be a novel therapeutic target for endometriosis.
PROBLEM: How is the role of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) in the development of murineendometriosis lesions? METHOD OF STUDY: BALB/c female mice (n = 36) were used for the murineendometriosis model. Endometriotic lesions were surgically induced in mice by transplanting mouse uterine tissue. After 4 weeks of IAP antagonist (BV6) treatment, the expression of inflammatory factors in the implants was evaluated using real-time RT-PCR. Inflammatory state, angiogenic activity, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation were assessed by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The number, size, and level of inflammatory cytokines (Vegf, Il-6, Ccl-2, Lif) gene expression in the murineendometriosis-like lesions were reduced by BV6 treatment. BV6 repressed the intensity and rate of positive cells of CD3, F4/80, and PECAM immunostaining; in addition, the expression of NF-κB p65 and phospho-NF-κB p65 was also attenuated. CONCLUSION: Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins antagonist represses the inflammation status of murineendometriosis-like lesions viaNF-κB pathway. IAPs may be a novel therapeutic target for endometriosis.