Integrin adhesion molecules in the endometrial glandular epithelium in patients with endometriosis or adenomyosis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of beta 1-integrin and E-cadherin molecules in the eutopic glandular epithelium in patients with endometriosis or adenomyosis.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients with endometriosis, and 22 patients with adenomyosis diagnosed histologically were selected as subjects. The controls consisted of 29 fertile women. Eutopic endometria were obtained by curettage or immediately after the operation. The samples were immunohistochemically examined for the expression of very late activation antigen-2 (VLA-2), VLA-3, VLA-4, VLA-5, VLA-6, and E-cadherin.


RESULTS
The expression of each VLA molecule and E-cadherin except VLA-4, VLA-5, and VLA-6 was significantly increased throughout the menstrual cycle in endometria in both the endometriosis and adenomyosis groups. In contrast, the expression of VLA-4 in the adenomyosis group was significantly reduced in the secretory phase.


CONCLUSIONS
Altered expression of beta 1-integrins and E-cadherin was observed throughout the menstrual cycle in patients with endometriosis and adenomyosis, suggesting the defective microenvironment of the endometrium.
Ota
H
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Akita University School of Medicine, Japan.
Tanaka
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D039201:Integrin alpha3beta1; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D039121:Integrin alpha6beta1; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D016023:Integrins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D038981:Receptors, Collagen; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin / Q000032:analysis; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / Q000032:analysis
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015820:Cadherins; D039201:Integrin alpha3beta1; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D039121:Integrin alpha6beta1; D019012:Integrin beta1; D016023:Integrins; D038981:Receptors, Collagen; D017469:Receptors, Fibronectin; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing