Increased expression of macrophage colony-stimulating factor and its receptor in patients with endometriosis.

Objective: To investigate the expression and regulation of colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) and its receptor, C-FMS, in endometriosis.

Design: In vivo and vitro study.

Setting: University-based academic medical center.

Patient(s): Reproductive-age women undergoing surgery for benign conditions.

Intervention(s): Peritoneal and endometrial tissue samples were obtained.

Main Outcome Measure(s): CSF-1 and C-FMS expression.

Result(s): Significantly higher CSF-1 levels were found in peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis compared with control subjects. Ectopic endometriotic tissue had 3.5-fold and 1.7-fold increases in CSF-1 and C-FMS expression, respectively, compared with eutopic tissue. Coculture of endometrial cells from either established cell lines or patient samples with peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs) led to increased expression of CSF-1 and C-FMS. A higher but nonsignificant increase in levels of C-FMS and CSF-1 was found in cocultures of endometrial epithelial cells from patients with endometriosis compared with those without endometriosis.

Conclusion(s): Increased CSF-1 levels may contribute to endometriosis lesion formation and progression. Elevation in CSF-1 after coculture of endometrial cells with PMCs suggests that endometrial tissue may be a source of peritoneal CSF-1. Increased C-FMS expression in endometrial cells from women with endometriosis cocultured with PMCs suggests that endometrial tissue involved in lesion formation is highly responsive to CSF-1 signaling.