Expression of the epidermal growth factor system in eutopic endometrium from women with endometriosis differs from that in endometrium from healthy women

TY - JOUR

T1 - Expression of the epidermal growth factor system in eutopic endometrium from women with endometriosis differs from that in endometrium from healthy women

AU - Ejskjaer, Kirsten

AU - Sorensen, Boe Sandahl

AU - Poulsen, Steen Seier

AU - Mogensen, Ole

AU - Forman, Axel

AU - Nexo, Ebba

N1 - Keywords: Adult; Biological Markers; Biopsy, Needle; Case-Control Studies; Endometriosis; Epidermal Growth Factor; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Middle Aged; Premenopause; Probability; RNA, Messenger; Reference Values; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sensitivity and Specificity; Statistics, Nonparametric; Uterine Diseases; Young Adult

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - BACKGROUND: The epidermal growth factor (EGF) system comprises four receptors, HER1-4, and several ligands, and is cyclically expressed in endometrium from healthy fertile women. Our aim is to identify differences in expression of the EGF system between endometriotic and normal endometrium. METHODS: We previously examined the EGF system in endometrial samples from healthy women (n = 14). Here we examine samples from endometrium (n = 23), endometriomas (n = 10) and peritoneal endometriosis (n = 9) from women with endometriosis (n = 23). mRNA expression of receptors and ligands from the EGF system was analyzed by real-time PCR, and proteins were localized by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Endometrial mRNA for HER1-3 was high compared with our previous findings in healthy endometrium, whereas HER4 and the ligands were unchanged. Endometriomas show lower expression of HER1-3 and no HER4 expression. Significant differences were demonstrated in late secretory phase for HER1 and HER2 and in the proliferative phase for HER3 compared to healthy women. Immunohistochemically, HER2 was identified in all samples, predominately in glands and surface epithelium. In a few glands, HER2 was in both cytoplasm and cell membrane. CONCLUSION: We report quantitative and qualitative differences in the EGF system in endometriotic eutopic endometrium compared to endometrium from healthy individuals.

AB - BACKGROUND: The epidermal growth factor (EGF) system comprises four receptors, HER1-4, and several ligands, and is cyclically expressed in endometrium from healthy fertile women. Our aim is to identify differences in expression of the EGF system between endometriotic and normal endometrium. METHODS: We previously examined the EGF system in endometrial samples from healthy women (n = 14). Here we examine samples from endometrium (n = 23), endometriomas (n = 10) and peritoneal endometriosis (n = 9) from women with endometriosis (n = 23). mRNA expression of receptors and ligands from the EGF system was analyzed by real-time PCR, and proteins were localized by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Endometrial mRNA for HER1-3 was high compared with our previous findings in healthy endometrium, whereas HER4 and the ligands were unchanged. Endometriomas show lower expression of HER1-3 and no HER4 expression. Significant differences were demonstrated in late secretory phase for HER1 and HER2 and in the proliferative phase for HER3 compared to healthy women. Immunohistochemically, HER2 was identified in all samples, predominately in glands and surface epithelium. In a few glands, HER2 was in both cytoplasm and cell membrane. CONCLUSION: We report quantitative and qualitative differences in the EGF system in endometriotic eutopic endometrium compared to endometrium from healthy individuals.

U2 - 10.1159/000167798

DO - 10.1159/000167798

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 18987482

SN - 0378-7346

VL - 67

SP - 118

EP - 126

JO - Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation

JF - Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation

IS - 2

ER -