Expression of stem cell-related genes in the endometrium and endometriotic lesions: a pilot study

Abstract

Objective: To compare the expression of stem cell-related genes in the endometrium (END), superficial endometriosis (SE), and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE).

Study design: We performed a prospective pilot study of six women suffering from SE and DIE who gave consent for laparoscopy surgery, endometrial biopsies, and participation in this study. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of 84 stem cell-related genes was performed in 18 biopsy samples.

Results: A total of 40 of 84 genes were expressed in SE and DIE, but were different from END as follows. Seven genes were over-expressed in SE and 33 genes were under-expressed in DIE compared with END. Two genes were only over-expressed in SE and three genes were only over-expressed in DIE. Six under-expressed genes were exclusively located in SE and one was only located in DIE. The remaining 31 genes were not different among the groups. There was no significant difference in gene expression between SE and DIE samples.

Conclusion: Tissue of DIE and SE appears to have similar stem cell-related genes. Nevertheless, there are differences in gene expression between SE and DIE.

Chinese abstract

目的：比较干细胞相关基因在子宫内膜（END）、浅表子宫内膜异位症（SE）和深部浸润性子宫内膜异位症（DIE）的表达情况。研究设计：我们进行了一项关于6名患有浅表子宫内膜异位症和深部浸润性子宫内膜异位症女性的前瞻性初步研究，这6名患者均同意腹腔镜手术、内膜活检并参与该研究。在18例活检标本中84个干细胞相关基因通过定量RT-PCR分析。结果：84个基因中共40个基因在浅表子宫内膜异位症和深部浸润性子宫内膜异位症表达，但在子宫内膜中却不同。与子宫内膜相比，7个基因在浅表子宫内膜异位症过度表达，33个基因在深部浸润性子宫内膜异位症中表达。2个基因只在浅表子宫内膜异位症过度表达，3个基因只在深部浸润性子宫内膜异位症过度表达。6个低表达基因仅位于浅表子宫内膜异位症，1个低表达基因仅位于深部浸润性子宫内膜异位症。其余31个基因在各组间并无差异。浅表子宫内膜异位症和深部浸润性子宫内膜异位症的基因表达并无显著差异。结论：深部浸润性子宫内膜异位症和浅表子宫内膜异位症组织似乎有着相同的干细胞相关基因。然而，浅表子宫内膜异位症和深部浸润性子宫内膜异位症的基因表达存在差异。

• Endometriosis
• gene expression
• stem cells

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the contributions of Dr. Jun Ding (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI) for the isolation, purification, and validation of RNA samples, as well as for the analysis of gene expression by quantitative RT-PCR. The authors also thank Professor Asgi T. Fazleabas (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI) for his helpful suggestions, support, and revision of this article. The authors also thank Drs. Katia Leite and Cristina Massoco for their technical support, as well as the university staff of USP for their collaboration. Finally, we thank the staff physicians of Huntington Centro de Medicina Reprodutiva, Sao Paulo, Brazil, especially Eduardo Leme Alves da Motta, MD, PhD.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.