Expression of EGF mRNA and protein in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues of patients with endometriosis

Kang, Hyuk Jae; Kim, Chung Hoon; Lee, Young Jin; Kim, Sung Hoon; Chae, Hee Dong; Kang, Byung Moon

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to investigate the expression of EGF mRNA and protein in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues of the patients with endometriosis and in eutopic endometrial tissues of the patients without endometriosis.
METHODS
Study group was composed of 34 women with endometriosis taking surgical treatment at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Asan Medical Center, from October 2004 to December 2005. Control group consisted of 14 women who had undergone surgical treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or benign gynecologic conditions other than endometriosis during the same period. Eutopic endometrial tissues of both groups and ectopic endometrial tissues of study group were collected during the operations. Real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to quantify EGF mRNA of these tissues. Western blot analysis was performed to ascertain the expression of EGF protein.
RESULTS
The expressions of EGF mRNA were significantly lower in both eutopic (P<0.01) and ectopic (P<0.01) endometrial tissues of the women with endometriosis than in eutopic endometrial tissues of control group. The expressions of EGF protein were shown to be lower in both eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues of the women with endometriosis than in eutopic endometrial tissues of control group.
CONCLUSION
We found some correlations between the lower expression of EGF in endometrial tissues and the development of endometriosis. In addition, the change or defect of some factors in the eutopic endometrium might play an important role in the development of endometriosis.