title: Immunohistochemical localization of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the expression of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in the eutopic endometrium and in endometriotic lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective immunohistochemical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five normal women and 39 women with endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endometrial and endometriotic tissue biopsies obtained at laparoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of IGFBP-3 assessed by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the endometrium, positive immunostaining of IGFBP-3 was observed both in the stroma and the epithelial glands. The intensity of staining in the glands during the secretory phase was significantly higher in women with endometriosis compared with controls (P = .018). An increased expression of IGFBP-3 over controls was found in stages I and II of the disease (P = .018), whereas in stages III and IV, the difference between controls and women with endometriosis was not significant (P = .300). In endometriotic tissues, a much-marked immunostaining of IGFBP-3 was noted in 90% of the glands and 67% of the stroma without apparent differences related to cycle phase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data show intense staining of IGFBP-3 in endometriosis lesions and increased expression of the protein in the endometrium of patients with endometriosis compared to controls. This marked expression of IGFBP-3 could be related to its previous finding in the peritoneal fluid and to its potential involvement in the pathophysiology of endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Endocrinologie de la Reproduction, Pavillon Saint-François d'Assise, CHUQ, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akoum
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lemay
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lajeunesse
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marois
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koutsilieris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000032:analysis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3