Alteration of focal adhesion kinase expression in eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression is altered in eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis.


METHODS
Experimental study using human endometrial tissue.


METHODS
Academic research center.


METHODS
Women with or without endometriosis who were undergoing surgery for benign indications.


METHODS
Endometrial biopsy.


METHODS
Expression of FAK was assessed by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting analysis, and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
At secretory phase, the average level of endometrial FAK expression of women with endometriosis was significantly higher than that of controls, but no significant difference was found between the two groups at proliferative phase. There was a positive correlation between FAK expression in secretory endometrial tissues and disease stage and pelvic pain in women with endometriosis. Furthermore, the endometrial FAK protein expression varied with the serum E(2) at proliferative phase and with the ratio of E(2) to P at secretory phase.


CONCLUSIONS
The study showed a significant increase of FAK expression in the secretory endometrial tissues of women with endometriosis, a relationship between FAK expression and disease stage, pelvic pain, and serum steroid hormones. Those results suggest that FAK may play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and be regulated by steroid hormones.
Mu
Lin
L
Department of Gynecology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China.
Zheng
Wei
W
Wang
Liang
L
Chen
Xue-Jun
XJ
Zhang
Xiang
X
Yang
Jian-Hua
JH
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015854:Up-Regulation
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases