Abstract: Objective：The aim of this study is to investigate whether M2 macrophages from ascites could induce angiogenesis in epithelial ovarian cancer（EOC）. Methods：Separated M2 macrophages from ascites，and then it was cultured and stimulated without FBS for 24 h，collected the conditional medium（M2 CM）. To evaluate the effects of M2 CM on the growth of EA.hy926，cell numbers was measured by crystal violet staining method after it co-culture with M2 CM. The effect of M2 CM on the migration of EA.hy926 cells was examined by using a transwell migration assay in 24-well Boyden chambers system（tm）. Production of tubular structures was an important process in angiogenesis，we investigated the effect of different conditional medium on EA.hy926 tube formation by capillary-like network formation assay. The supernatants of EA.hy926 cells co-cultured with different conditional medium were collected，then，the expressions of two cytokines（IL-8 and VEGF） were measured by ELISA. Results：① Incubation of EA.hy926 cells with M2 CM increased endothelial cell generation compared to untreated cells（P＜0.05）. ②In migration assay，EA.hy926 cells were shown more invasive cell numbers when the supernatant of M2 CM was used as chemoattractant （84.81±2.04），which was significantly more than that of negative control group（P＜0.001）. ③EA.hy926 cells treated with M2 CM resulted in a more extensive network of interconnecting tubes compared to control medium（P＜0.05）. ④Both IL-8 and VEGF secretion were up regulated after EA.hy926 cell co-cultured with M2 CM. After cultured with M2 CM for 48 hours，a significant increased amount of IL-8（1 570.45±118.645）ng/L were found in an ELISA in the culture supernatant，compared with that of the control medium（P＜0.001）；the amount of VEGF protein secreted（502.21±133.615）ng/L was also up-regulated（P＜0.001），determined in the same supernatant samples. Conclusions：The M2 macrophages from EOC ascites may induced EA.hy296 cell proliferation，migration and tube capillary-like formation via up-regulated the secretion of pro-angiogenic cytokines（eg.IL-8，VEGF）.

Key words: Ovarian neoplasms, Carcinoma, Epithelium, Ascites, Macrophages, Interleukin-8