Whole genome deoxyribonucleic acid microarray analysis of gene expression in ectopic versus eutopic endometrium.
OBJECTIVE
To use DNA microarrays to identify differentially expressed genes in eutopic endometrium compared with ectopic endometrium.


METHODS
Prospective, cross-sectional, observational study.


METHODS
University Medical Center and Research Laboratory.


METHODS
Eleven women with endometriosis.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Differential gene expression.


RESULTS
Seven hundred seventeen of the 53,000 probes on the whole human DNA microarrays were changed by twofold or greater in ectopic versus eutopic endometrium. Families of genes that were expressed differentially include genes that code for proteins associated with the immune system and inflammatory pathways, cell adhesion, cell-cell junctions, the extracellular matrix and its remodeling, cytoskeletal proteins, and signal transduction pathway components, among others.


CONCLUSIONS
The altered immune environment may allow survival of endometriotic cells that enter the abdominal cavity. Alterations of cell adhesion-associated genes may contribute to the adhesive and invasive properties of ectopic endometrium, and changes in signal transduction pathways support a change in the communication among cells of the endometrial explant compared with eutopic endometrium. These families of differentially expressed genes provide multiple opportunities for the development and testing of new hypotheses regarding endometriosis.
Eyster
Kathleen M
KM
Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069, USA. Kathleen.Eyster@usd.edu
Klinkova
Olga
O
Kennedy
Vanessa
V
Hansen
Keith A
KA
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies
D004247:DNA