Menstrual endometrial cells from women with endometriosis demonstrate increased adherence to peritoneal cells and increased expression of CD44 splice variants.
OBJECTIVE
We previously demonstrated that adherence of endometrial epithelial (EECs) and stromal cells (ESCs) to peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs) is partly regulated by ESC/EEC CD44 interactions with PMC associated hyaluronan. CD44, a transmembrane glycoprotein and major ligand for hyaluronan, has numerous splice variants which may impact hyaluronan binding. Here, we assessed whether ESCs and EECs from women with endometriosis demonstrate increased adherence to PMCs and examined CD44 splice variants' potential role in this process.


METHODS
In vitro study.


METHODS
Academic medical center.


METHODS
Fertility patients with and without endometriosis.


METHODS
Menstrual endometrium was collected from women with and without endometriosis confirmed surgically. The adherence of ESC/EECs to PMCs was measured. The ESC/EEC CD44 splice variants were assessed using dot-blot analysis.


RESULTS
The ESCs and EECs from women with endometriosis demonstrated increased adherence to PMCs. The predominant CD44 splice variants expressed by ESCs and EECs from women with and without endometriosis were v3, v6, v7, v8, v9, and v10. The ESCs and EECs from women with endometriosis were more likely to express v6, v7, v8, and v9.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased eutopic endometrial-PMC adherence and CD44 splice variant expression may contribute to the histogenesis of endometriotic lesions. Elucidation of factors controlling this expression may lead to novel endometriosis therapies.
Griffith
Jason S
JS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
Liu
Ya-Guang
YG
Tekmal
Rajeshwar R
RR
Binkley
Peter A
PA
Holden
Alan E C
AE
Schenken
Robert S
RS
D001483:Base Sequence; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
C497483:CD44 protein, human; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D020033:Protein Isoforms