Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in eutopic endometrium and ovarian endometriotic tissue in women with severe endometriosis.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the level and pattern of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) expression in endometriosis and to investigate the correlation between the expression of Cox-2 and several clinicosurgical parameters.


METHODS
Twenty-six patients with endometriosis and 21 patients with other benign gynecological conditions were enrolled. The eutopic endometrium was sampled by pipelle, and fragments of ovarian endometrioma and non-endometriotic ovarian cysts were sampled during surgery. Total RNA isolation and semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed.


RESULTS
The expression of Cox-2 mRNA (mean +/- SEM) in eutopic endometrium and ovarian endometriotic tissue significantly increased in patients with endometriosis compared with the controls. The expression of Cox-2 increased significantly in the proliferative phase in eutopic endometrium and in the secretory phase in ovarian endometriotic tissue of patients with endometriosis compared with the controls. Cox-2 mRNA expression in the endometrium and ovarian lesions significantly correlated with serum CA-125 and the diameter of the endometrioma.


CONCLUSIONS
Cox-2 expression increased in the eutopic endometrium and ovarian endometriotic tissue of the patients with endometriosis. These findings indicate that Cox-2 may be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of endometriosis.
Cho
SiHyun
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 146-92 Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Park
Soo Hyeon
SH
Choi
Young Sik
YS
Seo
Seok Kyo
SK
Kim
Hye Yeon
HY
Park
Ki Hyun
KH
Cho
Dong Jae
DJ
Lee
Byung Seok
BS
D000328:Adult; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2