Abnormal Expression of Prostaglandins E2 and F2α Receptors and Transporters in Patients with Endometriosis.

Halima Rakhila,Ali Akoum,Nathalie Bourcier,Marc Pouliot

doi:10.1155/2015/808146

Abstract

Objective. To investigate the level of expression of prostaglandin receptivity and uptake factors in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of women with endometriosis. Design. Prospective study. Setting. Human reproduction research laboratory. Patients. Seventy-eight patients with endometriosis and thirty healthy control subjects. Intervention(s). Endometrial and endometriotic tissue samples were obtained during laparoscopic surgery. Main Outcome Measure(s). Real-time polymerase chain reaction assay of mRNA encoding prostaglandin E2 receptors (EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4), prostaglandin F2α receptor (FP), prostaglandin transporter (PGT), and multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 (MRP4); immunohistochemical localization of expressed proteins. Results. Marked increases in receptors EP3, EP4, and FP and transporters PGT and MRP4 in ectopic endometrial tissue were noted, without noticeable change associated with disease stage. An increase in EP3 expression and decreases in FP and PGT were observed in the eutopic endometrium of endometriosis patients in conjunction with the phases of the menstrual cycle. Conclusion(s). This study is the first to demonstrate a possible relationship between endometriosis and enhanced prostaglandin activity. In view of the wide range of prostaglandin functions, increasing cell receptivity and facilitating uptake in endometrial tissue could contribute to the initial steps of overgrowth and have an important role to play in the pathogenesis and symptoms of this disease.

Highlights

Endometriosis is a major health issue affecting nearly 10 percent of women of childbearing age
Neither EP1 nor EP2 was expressed differentially to any appreciable degree, whether the comparison was between endometriosis patients and healthy control patients, eutopic and ectopic endometrium in endometriosis patients (Figures 1(a) and 1(b)), endometriosis stages (Figures 2(a) and 2(b)), or the two phases of the menstrual cycle (Table 2)
Expression of EP3 was increased in ectopic endometrium of endometriosis patients (Figure 1(c)) and, as shown in Figure 2(c), in both stages I-II and stages III-IV

Summary

Introduction

Endometriosis is a major health issue affecting nearly 10 percent of women of childbearing age. We have shown that ectopic endometrial tissue by itself is capable of producing growth-promoting molecules such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) [3] as well as implantation-promoting integrins [4] while initiating peritoneal inflammation. This inflammation causes the release of mediators such as prostaglandins E2 (PGE2) and F2α (PGF2α), which play a role in reproductive functions such as ovulation, luteolysis, implantation, parturition, and lactation. Excessive release of prostaglandins may affect peritoneal function, causing pain [5] and disrupting processes such as oocyte maturation, ovulation, and fertilization [6, 7]

Methods

Results

Conclusion