Immunohistochemical detection of heparanase-1 expression in eutopic and ectopic endometrium from women with endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of heparanase-1, an endoglycosidase that degrades heparan sulfate proteoglycans, in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues from women with endometriosis.


METHODS
An immunohistochemical study.


METHODS
Academic research laboratory and a private infertility clinic affiliated with a university medical center.


METHODS
Premenopausal women undergoing laparoscopy for endometriosis.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Expression of heparanase-1 analyzed by immunohistochemical staining in 91 eutopic and 14 ectopic endometrial specimens.


RESULTS
We found that 17% (4/24) of the eutopic endometrial specimens in the early proliferative phase and 32% (9/28) of the samples in the midproliferative phase were heparanase-1 positive. However, >or=80% of eutopic endometrial specimens at late proliferate phase and at luteal phase were heparanase-1 positive. Twelve of 14 ectopic endometriotic specimens stained heparanase-1 positive. Comparison of heparanase-1 expression in paired eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues revealed that 5 of 6 ectopic specimens in the early proliferative phase were heparanase-1 positive, whereas only 1 eutopic specimen was heparanase-1 positive. In comparison with our recent study of heparanase-1 expression in normal endometrium, we found that there was no significant difference in heparanase-1 expression in the eutopic endometrium from women with or without endometriosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Heparanase-1 was differentially expressed in the eutopic endometrium in the different menstrual phases. Heparanase-1 was highly expressed in the ectopic endometriotic lesions regardless of their menstrual phases, suggesting that the local environment is responsible for increased heparanase-1 expression.
Xu
Xiulong
X
Department of General Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. xxu@rush.edu
Ding
Jianchi
J
Ding
Helen
H
Shen
Jikun
J
Gattuso
Paolo
P
Prinz
Richard A
RA
Rana
Nasir
N
Dmowski
W Paul
WP
D000328:Adult; D002828:Choristoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D004717:Endometrium; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology*; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D000099175:Heparanase
D005966:Glucuronidase; D000099175:Heparanase