Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2013 Mar;56(2):102-109. 10.5468/OGS.2013.56.2.102.

Expression of CD44 in endometrial stromal cells from women with and without endometriosis and its effect on the adherence to peritoneal mesothelial cells

• Koo YH
• Na YJ
• Ahn MY
• Jeon HN
• Yeom JI
• Lee KS

• KMID: 1425657
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/OGS.2013.56.2.102

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to compare the expression of CD44 in endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) of women with and without endometriosis and to evaluate the role of CD44 in the adherence of ESCs to peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs).
METHODS
A PMC adherence assay was performed to evaluate the adherence of ESCs to PMCs in women with and without endometriosis. The expression of CD44 mRNA was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. CD44 protein was evaluated by Western blot analysis.
RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the expression of CD44 mRNA and protein in ESCs or in the binding of ESCs to PMCs between patients with endometriosis and controls. Although the expression of CD44 protein was decreased in both women with endometriosis and controls after anti-CD44 antibody treatment, there was no effect on binding of ESCs to PMCs. Treatment of ESCs with peritoneal fluid from endometriosis patients resulted in a significant increase in binding of ESCs to PMCs compared to untreated ESCs in the endometriosis group.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrates that the expression of CD44 protein in ESCs from women with endometriosis might not be directly associated with adherence to PMCs.

Keyword

CD44; Endometriosis; Endometrial stromal cells; Peritoneal mesothelial cells

MeSH Terms

Ascitic Fluid
Blotting, Western
Endometriosis
Female
Humans
RNA, Messenger
Stromal Cells
RNA, Messenger

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Endometrial stromal cell adherence to peritoneal mesothelial cells in the normal group and the endometriosis group, as measured by peritoneal mesothelial cells adherence assay.

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  Fig. 2 Expression of CD44 mRNA in the control group (A) and the endometriosis group (B), as measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

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  Fig. 3 Expression of CD44 protein in the control group (A) and the endometriosis group (B), as measured by Western blot analysis.

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  Fig. 4 Expression of CD44 protein after anti-CD44 antibody treatment in the control group and the endometriosis group, as measured by Western blot analysis (A). Peritoneal mesothelial cells adherence assay after anti-CD44 antibody treatment in the control group and the endometriosis group (B).

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  Fig. 5 Peritoneal mesothelial cells adherence assay after peritoneal fluid treatment in the control group (A) and the endometriosis group (B). Con, control; Ep, endometriosis peritoneal fluid; Np, normal peritoneal fluid. Significantly different *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.

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