title: Expression of 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in pelvic endometriosis.
abstract: Lack of expression or a deficiency of 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (17beta-HSD2), a key enzyme in estradiol inactivation, could be involved in the pathophysiology of endometriosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate expression of the gene (17beta-Hsd2) encoding 17beta-HSD2 in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues of women with endometriosis. Thirty-four infertile women were divided into a control group, without any clinical or laparoscopic evidence of endometriosis (n = 19), and a group with pelvic endometriosis (n = 15). Diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination of the endometriotic lesions. 17beta-Hsd2 mRNA expression was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in the control group (54% of the samples), in the eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis (83% of the specimens analyzed) and in all endometriotic lesions. The semi-quantitative analysis of 17beta-Hsd2 mRNA showed a significantly higher gene expression in the endometriotic implants compared with the intrauterine endometrium of the control group (p < 0.05). 17beta-HSD2 protein was localized to the glandular epithelium of both eutopic endometrium and endometriotic implants. The present results refute the hypothesis of lower or absent 17beta-HSD2 expression in pelvic endometriosis; therefore further studies are needed to assess other potential mechanisms leading to increased estrogenic activity within endometriotic implants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcia M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.forename: Débora M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Morsch
authors.forename: Aroldo F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Camargos
authors.forename: Poli M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Spritzer
authors.forename: Fernando M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Reis
mesh_terms: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004960:Estradiol Dehydrogenases; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D004960:Estradiol Dehydrogenases; C523763:HSD17B2 protein, human