Hexachlorobenzene exposure induces cell migration, invasion and angiogenic factors expression in human endometrial stromal cells

CHIAPPINI F; CEBALLOS L; PONTILLO CA; MIRET N; NÚÑEZ M; ÁLVAREZ L; FARINA M; RANDI AS

Capital Federal

Congreso; Reunión Conjunta de Sociedades de Biociencias; 2017

Endometriosis is an invasive gynecological disorder of reproductive women characterized by the growth of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterus. The disease is associated with chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and infertility. Exposure to endocrine-disrupting environmental pollutants could play a role in the disease etiology. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is an organochlorine pesticide found in maternal milk and in lipid foods, that induces toxic reproductive effects in laboratory animals. Degradation of extracellular matrix by metalloproteinases (MMPs) is a basic step in migration and invasiveness in endometriosis. Recently, we demonstrated that HCB enhances cyclooxygenase (COX-2) expression, MMP2 and 9 activation and prostaglandin E2 secretion in human endometrial stromal cells. Pathological angiogenesis is the hallmark of endometriosis. The pro-angiogenic factor, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the peritoneum of endometriosis patients supports the growth of the ectopic implants. The present study examined the effect of HCB in human endometrial stromal cell line T-HESC on cell migration (scratch motility assay), cell invasion (transwell Matrigel invasion assay), and expression of angiogenic factor VEGF (WB). Cells were exposed to HCB (0.005, 0.05, 0.5 and 5 μM) or vehicle for 24, 48 or 72h. Results showed that the pesticide increased cell migration (47%, p