Expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in adenomyosis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the expression of Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD in peritoneal fluid and ectopic endometrium from women with adenomyosis.


METHODS
The levels of Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD were measured in peritoneal fluid from infertile women who did not have endometriosis (n = 27), women with adenomyosis (n = 22), and women with endometriosis (n = 15). The expression of Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD messenger ribonucleic acids in ectopic endometrium was investigated by Northern blot analysis. Mn-SOD in ectopic endometrium was investigated by immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
The levels of Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD were significantly higher in the peritoneal fluid from women with adenomyosis than in those with endometriosis or infertile women. Mn-SOD was highly expressed in ectopic endometrium, but Cu,Zn-SOD was not. Mn-SOD was detected in ectopic endometrium of women with adenomyosis.


CONCLUSIONS
These data show that reactive oxygen produced in adenomyosis may induce Mn-SOD in ectopic endometrium, which results in the release of relatively large amounts of this protein into the peritoneal fluid. These results suggest that free radicals may play a role in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis, the same as they do in other inflammatory processes.
Ishikawa
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Asahikawa Medical College, Japan.
Nakata
T
T
Yaginuma
Y
Y
Nishiwaki
K
K
Goishi
K
K
Saitoh
S
S
D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000201:enzymology; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000201:enzymology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase