title: Menstrual endometrial cells from women with endometriosis demonstrate increased adherence to peritoneal cells and increased expression of CD44 splice variants.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
authors.forename: Jason S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.forename: Ya-Guang
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Rajeshwar R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Tekmal
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Binkley
authors.forename: Alan E C
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Holden
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Schenken
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: C497483:CD44 protein, human; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D020033:Protein Isoforms