title: beta-HCG/LH receptor (beta-HCG/LH-R) expression in eutopic endometrium and endometriotic implants: evidence for beta-HCG sensitivity of endometriosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) target their receptor in gonadal and nongonadal cells to stimulate steroidogenesis and cell growth. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of HCG/LH-R in endometriosis to elucidate a possible impact of LH and HCG on this disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of HCG/LH-R protein expression in 23 paired samples of ectopic and eutopic tissue of cycling women with endometriosis and in endometrial samples from 22 healthy controls was conducted via immunofluorescence. HCG and HCG/LH-R gene expression in endometriotic lesions was confirmed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In endometriotic implants, epithelial HCG/LH-R was found in 12/23 samples. No significant differences in HCG/LH-R levels were observed when compared with glands of uterine endometrium from the same patients or healthy controls. Messenger RNA transcripts for HCG were detected in all 12 samples, whereas HCG/LH-R mRNAs were observed in 10 of the 12 endometriotic lesions investigated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although HCG/LH-R was not found to be selectively upregulated in endometriosis, the mere presence of HCG/LH-R in endometriotic tissue may suggest sensitivity of endometriosis to HCG and LH that target HCG/LH-R.
authors.affiliation: Division of Special Gynaecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Gernot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hudelist
authors.forename: Ambros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knoefler
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haider
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kolbus
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Czerwenka
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Helmy
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kubista
authors.forename: Christian F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Singer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D011974:Receptors, LH; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone