Transforming growth factor-beta 1 and insulin-like growth factor-1 expression in ovarian endometriotic cysts: a preliminary study.
Increased concentrations of TGF-beta 1 in endometriotic tissue are considered important in the pathophysiology of endometrial diseases since TGF-beta 1 may inhibit natural killer activity and induce angiogenesis and proliferation of endometrial stromal cells. In the present study we report on TGF-beta 1, IGF-1 and their receptor localization, as detected by Northern hybridization and immunohistochemistry, in ovarian endometriotic tissues removed during surgical procedures. We detected comparable expression of IGF-1 and IGF-1 receptor in the stromal and epithelial compartments, thus confirming disregulated expression of the IGF system in ovarian endometriosis. On the contrary, strongly increased TGF-beta 1 steady state level mRNA expression was detected in all endometriotic samples. In addition, we demonstrated weak TGF-beta 1 immunohistochemical expression in the epithelial lining and intense expression in the cellular stroma of ovarian endometriomas, thus suggesting that TGF-beta 1 could have an important role in the maintenance and propagation of the disease. On the basis of these preliminary results we can assume that TGF-beta 1, IGF-1 and their receptors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Bari, School of Medicine, Bari, Italy.
G
G
Loverro
E
E
Maiorano
A
A
Napoli
L
L
Selvaggi
E
E
Marra
E
E
Perlino
D000328:Adult; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000032:analysis; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1