Effects of simvastatin on the proliferation and apoptosis of human endometrial stromal cells from women with endometriosis

Abstract

endometriosis. Methods: Endometrial tissues were obtained from four women with endometriosis. The endometrial stromal cells isolated from tissue were cultured with 0, 2 and 10 μM simvastatin treatments for 48 hours. The proliferation of endometrial stromal cells was inhibited with 2 and 10 μM simvastatin treatments compared to control. The effect of simvastatin on the sub-G1 phase of cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry. The expression of apoptosis related molecule (Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3) was examined in control and simvastatin treatments using western blot. Results: The sub-G1 phase was higher in 10 μM simvastatin than in control and 2 μM simvastatin (P<0.05). This result showed that simvastatin could induce apoptosis of stromal cells. The expression of Bcl-2 was increased in simvastatin treatments slightly (P<0.05) and the expression of Bax was not different between control and experimental groups. The activation of caspase-3 was significantly higher in 10 μM simvastatin treated group than control and 2 μM simvastatin treated groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: Simvastatin induces apoptosis of endometrial stromal cells and inhibits their proliferation. It was considered that simvastatin could potentially be a therapeutic agent for the treatment of endometriosis.