Decreased numbers of eutopic endometrial apoptotic cells have been reported in endometriotic patients, indicating the possibility of antiapoptotic effects of their sera. In this preliminary study, we examined the effects of serum from 8 endometriotic patients on cell proliferation and viability of eutopic human endometrial stromal cells obtained from 3 non-endometriotic women. Endometrial stromal cell proliferation was stimulated in a dose-dependent manner by all sera examined, including those of healthy women. Compared with the sera from healthy women, all sera from 8 endometriotic patients significantly enhanced stromal cell proliferation, and 5 of the 8 sera significantly inhibited 8-Br-cAMP-activation-induced cell death in endometrial stromal cells. Considering these results, we suggest that the stromal cell growth and surviving factor(s) from the serum of most endometriotic patients have a higher activity, which may stimulate ectopic implantation and proliferation of endometrial stromal cells.

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