The roles of thioredoxin and thioredoxin-binding protein-2 in endometriosis.
BACKGROUND
Oxidative stress is considered to be involved in the establishment and development of endometriosis. Thioredoxin (TRX) is an endogenous redox regulator that protects cells against oxidative stress, and TRX-binding protein-2 (TBP-2) is a negative regulator of TRX in the biological function and expression. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of TRX and TBP-2 in the pathophysiology of endometriosis.


METHODS
A total of 35 patients with histologically confirmed endometriosis and 31 patients without endometriosis participated in this study. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify TRX and TBP-2 mRNA levels, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to assess TRX and TBP-2 protein localization in the endometrium. Serum and peritoneal fluid levels of TRX and TBP-2 were measured using a specific commercial ELISA.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in TRX mRNA levels in the endometrium of patients with endometriosis and the control groups. However, TBP-2 mRNA levels in the endometrium were lower, and the TRX to TBP-2 ratio was higher in patients with endometriosis than in the control group. In particular, the TRX to TBP-2 ratio was significantly higher during late secretory and menstrual phase in patients with endometriosis compared with the control group. IHC studies also showed the decreased TBP-2 immunoreactivity in patients with endometriosis compared with the control group. There was no correlation between TRX and TBP-2 mRNA levels in patients with endometriosis, whereas TRX mRNA levels were positively correlated with TBP-2 mRNA levels in the control group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in TRX and TBP-2 levels in serum or peritoneal fluid.


CONCLUSIONS
Aberrant expression of TRX and TBP-2 in the endometrium may be associated with the establishment of endometriosis.
Seo
Seok Kyo
SK
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, 146-92 Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-720, Korea.
Yang
Hyo In
HI
Lee
Kyung Eun
KE
Kim
Hye Yeon
HY
Cho
Sihyun
S
Choi
Young Sik
YS
Lee
Byung Seok
BS
D000328:Adult; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013879:Thioredoxins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C491203:TXN protein, human; C486715:TXNIP protein, human; D013879:Thioredoxins