The effect of epidermal growth factor on vascular endothelial growth factor secretion by endometrial stromal cells

Endometrial stromal cells undergo morphological and functional changes to facilitate oocyte implantation under regulation of various hormones and growth factors. We studied physiological induction by epidermal growth factor (EGF) of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in these cells. In human endometrial stromal cells, the effect of EGF, genistein, tryphostin AG1478 (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor), and wortmannin (a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor) on production of VEGF was examined: Total RNA was extracted and VEGF mRNA expression was quantified by Northern analysis. EGF induced production of VEGF by stromal cells in a time-dependent manner; the effect became significant after 12 h and increased further between 24 and 48 h (P<0.05). Dose dependency was also significant (P<0.01). Genistein, tryphostin AG1478, and wortmannin partially suppressed the increase in production induced by EGF (P<0.01, P< 0.01, P<0.01), respectively. Production of EGF by fertilized oocytes and trophoblasts has been reported in early pregnancy. VEGF is believed to be induced by EGF through mechanisms involving tyrosine kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. The increase in VEGF may contribute to neovascularization that promotes proliferation of endometrium and placentation. Received: 6 September 2001 / Accepted: 21 May 2002