title: Metalloproteinases, vascular endothelial growth factor, and angiopoietin 1 and 2 in eutopic and ectopic endometrium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin 1 and 2 (ANGPT1/ANGPT2), and matrix metalloproteinases 1, 2, and 9 (MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9) in eutopic and ectopic endometrium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eutopic and ectopic endometrium samples from 30 women with endometriosis and endometrium biopsy samples from 30 healthy women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biopsies of ovarian endometriomas and eutopic endometrium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical staining to evaluate the expression of VEGF, ANGPT1, ANGPT2, MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9, and real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis to quantify mRNA expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with endometriosis had higher levels of angiogenic factors and metalloproteinases in endometriotic cysts than in eutopic endometrium. These substances were also overexpressed in eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis when compared with normal controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overexpression of angiogenic factors and metalloproteinases may be the characteristic feature of endometrium with greater potential to transform into endometriotic lesions in the peritoneal cavity. Structural and/or functional differences of eutopic endometrium could have a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis secondary to the backward passage of endometrial cells into the peritoneal cavity. Whether these local factors may induce, promote, and/or regulate this transformation remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Costantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Carlo
authors.forename: Marika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonifacio
authors.forename: Giovanni A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tommaselli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bifulco
authors.forename: Germano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nappi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D004717:Endometrium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D045726:Metalloproteases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D017931:DNA Primers; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D045726:Metalloproteases