Abstract
BackgroundEndometrial cells, which are shed by retrograde menstruation, may aberrantly express molecules involved in invasion and migration, leading to endometriosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the laminin gamma 2 chain (LAMC2) in the tissues of women with and without endometriosis.MethodsEndometrial biopsy specimens were collected from healthy volunteers and from endometriosis patients. Biopsy specimens from the corresponding endometriotic lesions were also collected. The expression of laminin gamma 2 chain was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).ResultsEndometrial tissue from women with or without endometriosis showed constitutive expression of LAMC2 mRNA throughout the menstrual cycle. A higher mRNA level was observed in ectopic endometrium (Ec) from women with endometriosis compared with eutopic endometrium (Eu) from women with endometriosis. Immunohistochemistry revealed a varied pattern of laminin gamma 2 chain expression, with increased epithelial expression in eutopic endometrium from women with endometriosis compared with those without endometriosis.ConclusionsThe altered expression of laminin gamma 2 chain in eutopic endometrium from women with endometriosis may provide new opportunities for diagnosis and treatment.
Highlights
Endometrial cells, which are shed by retrograde menstruation, may aberrantly express molecules involved in invasion and migration, leading to endometriosis
Laminin gamma 2 mRNA expression LAMC2 mRNA was detectable in the endometrium of women without endometriosis, and no differences were observed between the proliferative and secretory phases of the menstrual cycle (Figure 1A)
When reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed in paired samples of ectopic and eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis, an up to 3 fold increase of LAMC2 mRNA levels was detected in the ectopic endometrium (Figure 1B, P < 0.05)
Summary
Endometrial cells, which are shed by retrograde menstruation, may aberrantly express molecules involved in invasion and migration, leading to endometriosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the laminin gamma 2 chain (LAMC2) in the tissues of women with and without endometriosis. The most widely accepted theory is that retrograde menstruation through the fallopian tube leads to the transfer of endometrial cells into the peritoneal cavity, where they become embedded in the pelvic structures [1] (for a review, see [2]). This theory does not explain why more than 80% of women of reproductive age experience retrograde menstrual bleeding but do not develop endometriosis. The laminin gamma 2 chain is expressed in tumour cells at the invasion front or in budding tumour cells in many types of human cancers such as adenocarcinoma of the colon, breast, pancreas and lung, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma [8,9]
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