Bcl-2 and Bax expression in human endometriotic and adenomyotic tissues.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the Bcl-2 and Bax expressions in endometriotic and adenomyotic tissues. In addition, to evaluate the Bcl-2/Bax status during the menstrual cycle in these tissues.


METHODS
A total of 56 women were retrospectively recruited from a University hospital setting. A total of 25 had endometriosis and 31 adenomyosis. Tissue samples were collected during gynaecological surgery and confirmed by histology to have endometriosis or adenomyosis. Bcl-2 and Bax expressions were investigated on 56 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue by immunohistochemical staining and electron microscopy.


RESULTS
The difference of Bcl-2-positive protein between endometriosis and adenomyosis was not significant. No significant difference was found between Bcl-2 expression and the proliferative and secretory phase of the cycle in women with endometriosis, but this comparison was highly significant (P<0.001) in women with adenomyosis. The difference of Bax-positive protein between endometriosis and adenomyosis was not significant. In addition, no significant differences were found between the various phases of the cycle. We have found a stronger inverse correlation between the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in endometriosis than in adenomyosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the pathogenesis of ovarian endometriosis may be different from that of adenomyosis and the persistence of Bcl-2 and Bax expressions during both phases of the cycle in ovarian endometriotic tissues may have important implications for the survival and proliferation of the ectopic endometrial tissue.
Goumenou
A
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Crete, 7 Giannikou Street, 71201 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Panayiotides
I
I
Matalliotakis
I
I
Vlachonikolis
I
I
Tzardi
M
M
Koumantakis
E
E
D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000737:chemistry; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016610:Tissue Embedding; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
C494826:BAX protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein