Animal model of endometriosis treated with xenogeneic endothelial cells as vaccines in Lewis rats

Objective To investigate a new therapy for endometriosis, which can inhibit the angiogenesis of ectopic endometrium.Methods Xeogeneic endothelial cells (human umbilical vein endothelial cells, HUVECs) were used as vaccines, and a variety of controlled cells (including rat aortic endothelial cells and human fibroblast cells) were cultured, fixed and resuspended in PBS. Thirty-six Lewis rats with experimentally induced endometriosis were divided into 6 groups. Group A was treated with HUVECs (1×10 5); Group B was treated with HUVECs (5×10 5);Group C was treated with HUVECs (1×10 6); Group D (a control group) was treated with PBS (0.5 ml); Group E (a control group) was treated with human fibroblast cells(5×10 5); and Group F (a control group) was treated with rat aortic endothelial cells (5×10 5). Microvessel desity (MVD), area and the proliferative index were deteced in different groups 4 weeks after the treatment . The effect of immune serum on rat endothelial cell proliferation in vivo was determined with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method.Results The area of the established endometriotic implant became smaller in Group B and Group C; compared with other groups, MVD decreased after the treatment with HUVECs as vaccines in Group B and Group C (P0.05). The proliferative index had no difference among these groups (P0.05). The immune sera induced by HUVECs could inhibit the proliferation of endothelial cells of rats in vivo (P 0.05). Conclusion As vaccines, HUVECs can inhibit the angiogenesis of ectopic endometrium, and provide a new therapy for endometriosis.