Korean J Reprod Med.  2007 Sep;34(3):149-157.

Expression of Osteopontin in Eutopic and Ectopic Endometrial Tissues in Endometriosis

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. chnkim@amc.seoul.kr

Abstract


OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to compare the expression of osteopontin (OPN) mRNA and protein in the eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues in women with endometriosis and endometrial tissues in women without endometriosis.
METHODS
A total of 32 women with histologically confirmed endometriosis were recruited for study group. For controls, 34 women undergoing operative treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or benign gynecologic condition other than endometriosis were recruited. At the time of laparoscopy or laparotomy, a biopsy specimen was taken from the endometrial cavity and peritoneal endometrial implant or endometrioma whenever appropriate. We employed real time quantitative RT-PCR to quantify OPN mRNA expression of these tissues and performed western blot analysis to measure the quantity of OPN.
RESULTS
The expression of OPN mRNA was significantly higher in both eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues of women with endometriosis than in endometrial tissues of controls during both proliferative and secretory phase. In the eutopic endometrial tissue of women with endometriosis, OPN mRNA expression significantly increased during the secretory phase compared to the proliferative phase in women with endometriosis as well as controls. However, in the ectopic endometrial tissue, OPN mRNA expression significantly decreased during the secretory phase compared to the proliferative phase. The expression of OPN protein was significantly higher in women with endometriosis than in controls.
CONCLUSION
This study shows the marked expression of OPN mRNA and protein in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues in women with endometriosis may be associated with the adhesion and invasion of endometrial explants.

Keyword

Endometriosis; Osteopontin; Eutopic and ectopic endometrium

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Blotting, Western
Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia
Endometriosis*
Female
Humans
Laparoscopy
Laparotomy
Osteopontin*
RNA, Messenger
Osteopontin
RNA, Messenger
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