Estrogen induces stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1/CXCL12) production in human endometrial stromal cells: a possible role of endometrial epithelial cell growth

Estradiol enhanced stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1/CXCL12) production levels in human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) in a time- and dose-dependent manner that could be completely abolished by ICI 182,780 (estrogen receptor antagonist) and medroxyprogesterone acetate. Although SDF-1 was undetectable in the Ishikawa human endometrial epithelial cell line, its receptor (CXCR4) messenger RNA levels in Ishikawa cells were much higher than those in ESCs, and furthermore SDF-1 induced the proliferation of Ishikawa cells; SDF-1 secreted from ESCs may play a role in endometrial epithelial cell growth in the paracrine system.