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Objective: To evaluate the involvement of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta isoforms (TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, and TGF-beta3) on endometrial tissue remodeling during the perimenstrual period., Design: The effects of TGF-beta isoforms on the cell proliferation, motility, and contractivity of cultured human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) were investigated., Setting: Research laboratory at a medical school., Patient(s): Nine endometrial specimens in the late secretory phase were used., Intervention(s): Endometrial stromal cells were incubated with recombinant human recombinant TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, and TGF-beta3., Main Outcome Measure(s): The cell proliferation, motility, and contractivity of ESCs were accessed by a modified methylthiazoletetrazolium assay, in vitro wound repair assay, transwell invasion assay, and collagen gel contraction assay., Result(s): All three isoforms of TGF-beta significantly inhibited the cell proliferation of ESCs in a dose-dependent manner. In vitro wound repair assay and transwell invasion assay demonstrated that the TGF-beta isoforms significantly inhibited the motility of ESCs. However, the TGF-beta isoforms were shown to have a clear effect on the collagen gel contractivity of ESCs., Conclusion(s): These results suggest that TGF-beta isoforms may promote endometrial tissue repair through the inhibition of the proliferation, expansion, and migration of ESCs, and through the stimulation of the contraction of the collagen gel matrix by these cells. Transforming growth factor-beta may be involved in the protection of the endometrium from extensive fibrosis and scarring by regulating ESC function during the perimenstrual period.

Interferon (IFN)-beta, not IFN-alpha, suppresses vascular endothelial growth factor secretion in endometriotic cyst stromal cells. It was suggested that IFN-beta may be more suitable than IFN-alpha as an anti-endometriotic agent.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of interleukin (IL)-13, a T-helper (Th)2 cytokine, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-beta, a Th1 cytokine, on the production of IL-6 family cytokines and chemokines by endometrial stromal cells (ESC)., Design: The effects of IL-13 and TNF-beta, on the production of IL-6, IL-11, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), IL-8, growth-regulated oncogene alpha (GROalpha), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), regulated on activation, T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), and eotaxin were investigated., Setting: Research laboratory at a medical university., Patient(s): Thirteen endometrial specimens in the late proliferative phase were used., Intervention(s): The ESC were incubated for 24 hours with recombinant human IL-13 and recombinant human TNF-beta., Main Outcome Measure(s): The concentration of IL-6, IL-11, LIF, IL-8, GROalpha, MCP-1, RANTES, and eotaxin in the culture media was measured using ELISA., Result(s): The increase in levels of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and eotaxin in the culture media of ESC paralleled the addition of increasing amounts of IL-13 and TNF-beta, whereas the levels of IL-11 and LIF were decreased with increasing amounts of IL-13, but were increased with increasing amounts of TNF-beta. Tumor necrosis factor-beta enhanced the production of GROalpha and RANTES in dose-dependent manner; however, IL-13 did not affect the expression of GROalpha or RANTES., Conclusion(s): These results suggest that IL-13 and TNF-beta secreted in the cyclic endometrial tissue and in the decidua may differentially regulate the production of IL-6 family cytokines and chemokines by ESC. The controlled expression of these cytokines in the endometrium may contribute to the modulation of the immune reaction during the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy by the regulation of leukocyte trafficking and functions.