Endometriosis, which exhibits enigmatic pathological features such as stromal
fibrosis and proliferation of ectopic epithelial cells, is known as a refractory disease. Mesenchymal stem cells modulate the
fibrosis in stromal tissues through their trophic and immunomodulatory properties. To investigate the potential of stem cells in treating
endometriosis, we examined the secondary morphology and molecular alterations in
endometriosis-like lesions after the administration of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) to an experimental murine model of
endometriosis. The infused ASCs were found integrated in the
endometriosis-like lesions. Accompanied by the suppression of stromal
fibrosis and proliferation of endometriotic epithelial cells, the infusion of ASCs with stemness potential (early passage of ASCs) suppressed the growth of
endometriosis-like lesions and inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic
cytokines, whereas no significant attenuation of
endometriosis-like lesions occurred after the infusion of ASCs without stemness potential (late passage of ASCs). Accordingly, the trophic and immunomodulatory properties of ASCs may regulate
fibrosis in
endometriosis-like lesions, suggesting that regenerative medicine could be recognized as an innovative treatment for patients with
endometriosis through the accumulation of evidence of preclinical efficacy.