Expression of heparanase and angiopoietin-2 in patients with endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to investigate the expression of heparanase (Hpa) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in endometriosis.


METHODS
In ectopic and eutopic endometrium of patients undergoing laparoscopy for endometriosis (n=86) and in normal endometrium of patients undergoing laparoscopic tubal ligation or hysteroscopic resection because of uterus septus (n=30), we determined Hpa and Ang-2 gene expression by RT-PCR. To support the mRNA data, the expression of Hpa and Ang-2 protein was measured by Western blot analysis. Finally, Hpa and Ang-2 in these tissues was localized by immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
The positive rate of Hpa and Ang-2 mRNA in ectopic and eutopic endometrium in the study group was significantly higher than that in normal endometrium in the control group. In the study group, ectopic and eutopic endometrium expressed a higher positive rate of Hpa and Ang-2 protein, whereas in the control group, normal endometrium expressed a lower positive rate of Hpa and Ang-2 protein. In eutopic and ectopic endometrium, there was balanced expression between Hpa and Ang-2. Both Hpa and Ang-2 showed a balanced expression between eutopic and ectopic endometrium. In ectopic endometrium, strong staining for Hpa and Ang-2 was observed both in epithelial cells and in stromal cells, but in eutopic endometrium, Hpa and Ang-2 were mainly expressed in epithelial cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The higher expression of Hpa and Ang-2 in ectopic and eutopic endometrium may play an important role in the pathogenesis and development of endometriosis.
Jingting
Cai
C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, PR China.
Yangde
Zhang
Z
Yi
Zhang
Z
Mengxiong
Li
L
Rong
Yu
Y
Yu
Zhang
Z
Guoqing
Peng
P
Lixiu
Peng
P
D000328:Adult; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000099175:Heparanase
D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D005966:Glucuronidase; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000099175:Heparanase