Thiazolidinedione inhibition of peritoneal inflammation.

Chemoattraction of macrophages into the peritoneal cavity is one of the important characteristics in patients with endometriosis. An inflammatory response is postulated to be responsible for infertility and pelvic pain associated with this syndrome. The present in vivo studies were designed to test if thiazolidinediones (TZDs), activators of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma, could inhibit monocyte chemotaxis in a murine model. TZDs were first used as orally bioavailable insulin-sensitizing agents. They are currently under investigation in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including arthritis or colitis. Intraperitoneal injection of thioglycollate was used to elicit high numbers of activated peritoneal macrophages in female mice. Concomitant peritoneal injection of ciglitazone, a member of the TZD family, significantly reduced the number of macrophages. When cultured and stimulated by tumor necrosis factor alpha, these peritoneal macrophages also secreted less RANTES and less IL-1beta protein. This animal model suggests that treatment of endometriosis patients with TZDs may diminish symptoms associated with intraperitoneal inflammation.