title: Expression of inducible microsomal prostaglandin E synthase in local lesions of endometriosis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recently, an inducible microsomal human prostaglandin E synthase (mPGES) was identified. This enzyme converts the cyclooxygenase (COX) product, prostaglandin (PG) H(2), to PGE(2), an eicosanoid linked to carcinogenesis. Although elevated levels of PGE(2) have been observed in many tumor types including colorectal adenomas and cancers, its role in the pathophysiology of endometriosis is unknown. We previously reported increased expression of COX-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) in local lesions of endometriosis. To further elucidate the mechanism responsible for the elevated levels of PGE(2) in endometriosis, we examined the expression levels of mPGES.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples were obtained from 28 patients, fixed in formalin, and embedded in paraffin for immunohistochemical analysis. We examined the expression of mPGES mRNA in seven cases by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction using total RNA extracted from frozen samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistochemistry revealed increased mPGES immunoreactivity in endometriosis samples compared with eutopic endometria. Microsomal PGES immunoreactivity was observed in both epithelial cells and stromal or inflammatory cells of endometriosis. Increased expression of mPGES-1 mRNA was detected in most of the endometriosis samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that expression of mPGES in addition to COX-2 plays a role in increasing PGE(2) production in endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Oyaguchi-kamimachi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan. fchishi@med.nihon-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Fumihisa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chishima
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugitani
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karasaki-Suzuki
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugita
authors.forename: Norimichi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nemoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism; D008861:Microsomes / Q000201:enzymology*; D000071876:Prostaglandin-E Synthases; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C000605862:PTGES protein, human; D000071876:Prostaglandin-E Synthases