Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α-mediated pathway as a possible therapeutic target in endometriosis

Abstract STUDY QUESTION Is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α)-mediated pathway involved in the development of endometriosis? SUMMARY ANSWER PGC-1α plays critical roles in inflammation and cell proliferation of endometriotic tissues and may be involved in the development of endometriosis. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Expression levels of PGC-1α are higher in ovarian endometrioma (OE) than normal endometrium (NE). PGC-1α also stimulates aromatase activity and promotes local estrogen biosynthesis in OE. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This is a case-controlled biological study using endometrial cells and tissues derived from 23 women with, and 10 women without, OE. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Ectopic endometriotic and eutopic endometrial stromal cells (SCs) were isolated and maintained in culture. PGC-1α was either overexpressed in the cells or knocked down using siRNA. The expression of PGC-1α and other factors during endometriosis was examined using real-time PCR and western blotting, cell proliferation was measured using Cell Counting Kit-8 (WST-8) assays and transcriptional activity was assessed using luciferase reporter assays. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE PGC-1α overexpression promoted the proliferation of OESCs in a time-dependent manner (P