The Combination of N-Acetyl Cysteine, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, and Bromelain Shows High Anti-Inflammatory Properties in Novel In Vivo and In Vitro Models of Endometriosis

Figure 4

Anti-inflammatory effect of NAC/LA/Br on ECs: analysis of VCAM1 expression. Five different populations of endometriotic endothelial cells (EECs) and 5 different populations of uterine microvascular endothelial cell (UtMECs) were isolated, as described by Bulla et al. [17] with some modifications. ECs were grown to confluence in a 96-well plate and then incubated with NAC 10 μg/mL, AL 9 μg/mL, and Br 2 μg/mL, alone or in association (MIX). Successively the cells were stimulated overnight with TNF-α (100 ng/mL) and incubated with anti-human VCAM1. The binding of primary antibody was revealed incubating the cells with a goat anti-mouse IgG conjugated with alkaline phosphatase. The 100% of VCAM1 expression is referred to the TNF-α-treated cells. Data are expressed as mean ± SE of results from five experiments each performed in triplicate. ^* with respect to the untreated (Mann-Whitney test).

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