Local activation of TGF-beta1 at endometriosis sites.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the factors related to activation of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1) at sites of endometriosis.


METHODS
TGF-beta1 is activated by plasmin, which is formed when plasminogen is activated by urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). We studied these factors by immunohistochemistry or immunoassay.


RESULTS
TGF-beta1 protein was localized mainly in the cytoplasm of glandular epithelial cells in both endometriotic cysts and normal endometrium, but strongly positive immunostaining was significantly more common in cysts. The levels of TGF-beta1, uPA and plasmin/alpha2-plasmin inhibitor complex were all higher in cyst fluid than in peritoneal fluid. There was little uPA protein expression in the glandular epithelium of normal endometrium, but it was prominent in the cytoplasm of glandular epithelial cells from endometriotic cysts, and strongly positive immunostaining was significantly more common in cysts.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that TGF-beta1 activity is increased at sites of endometriosis due to enhanced production of both uPA and TGF-beta1 by glandular epithelium and because plasmin activates TGF-beta1 after being converted from plasminogen by uPA.
Komiyama
Shin-ichi
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan. komiyama@fujita-hu.ac.jp
Aoki
Daisuke
D
Komiyama
Mizuka
M
Nozawa
Shiro
S
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism*
D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D005341:Fibrinolysin; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator