[HTML][HTML] Proangiogenic Tie2+ macrophages infiltrate human and murine endometriotic lesions and dictate their growth in a mouse model of the disease

A Capobianco, A Monno, L Cottone, MA Venneri… - The American journal of …, 2011 - Elsevier
A Capobianco, A Monno, L Cottone, MA Venneri, D Biziato, F Di Puppo, S Ferrari
The American journal of pathology, 2011Elsevier
Endometriosis affects women of reproductive age, causing infertility and pain. Although
immune cells are recruited in endometriotic lesions, their role is unclear. Tie2-expressing
macrophages (TEMs) have nonredundant functions in promoting angiogenesis and growth
of experimental tumors. Here we show that human TEMs infiltrate areas surrounding newly
formed endometriotic blood vessels. We set up an ad hoc mouse model in which TEMs, and
not Tie2-expressing endothelial cells, are targeted. We transplanted in wild-type recipients …
Endometriosis affects women of reproductive age, causing infertility and pain. Although immune cells are recruited in endometriotic lesions, their role is unclear. Tie2-expressing macrophages (TEMs) have nonredundant functions in promoting angiogenesis and growth of experimental tumors. Here we show that human TEMs infiltrate areas surrounding newly formed endometriotic blood vessels. We set up an ad hoc mouse model in which TEMs, and not Tie2-expressing endothelial cells, are targeted. We transplanted in wild-type recipients bone marrow cells expressing a suicide gene (Herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase) under the Tie2 promoter/enhancer. TEMs infiltrated endometriotic lesions. TEM depletion by ganciclovir administration arrested the growth of established lesions, without toxicity. Lesion architecture was disrupted, with: i) loss of glandular organization, ii) reduced neovascularization, and iii) activation of caspase 3 in CD31+ endothelial cells. Thus, TEMs are important for maintaining the viability of newly formed vessels and represent a potential therapeutic target in endometriosis.
Elsevier