P27Kip1 is down-regulated in the endometrium of women with endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate p27 protein expression in the endometrium of women with endometriosis.


METHODS
Transversal case-control study.


METHODS
Endometriosis Unit, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil.


METHODS
Thirteen patients with stage I/II endometriosis, five with stage III/IV endometriosis, and 11 control subjects.


METHODS
Endometrial biopsies were obtained from patients with proven endometriosis and women without disease at laparoscopy. P27 protein was immunolocalized in the biopsy tissues and quantified by light microscopy.


METHODS
Immunostaining scores of glandular and stromal cells in endometrial biopsies obtained from patients with confirmed endometriosis compared with those of healthy control women with normal pelvis at laparoscopy. The staining scores of stage I/II and stage III/IV patients and of both patient groups and the control group were compared.


RESULTS
The level of p27 protein expression observed in the control group, both in the stroma and in the endometrial glands, was significantly different from that observed in the endometriosis patient groups. Significant differences in p27 protein expression levels in the glandular epithelium and stroma were not observed among groups of patients with endometriosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The decreased level of p27 protein in the endometrium of women with endometriosis suggests that cell cycle alterations in the endometrial mucosa may be involved in the pathogenesis of this disease.
Schor
Eduardo
E
Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis Unit, Gynecology Department, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. eduschor@uol.com.br
da Silva
Ismael Dale C G
ID
Sato
Hélio
H
Baracat
Edmund C
EC
Girão
Manoel João B C
MJ
de Freitas
Vilmon
V
D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000737:chemistry
C436291:CDKN1B protein, human; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27