The expression of angiopoietin-1 and -2 in the endometrium of women with abnormal bleeding induced by an intra-uterine device.
This study identified differences in expression of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in the endometrium of 33 women with abnormal bleeding induced by an intra-uterine device (IUD; 23 proliferative phase, 10 secretory phase) compared with 28 control samples from normal endometria in women without an IUD fitted (12 proliferative phase, 16 secretory phase). Expression of Ang-1, Ang-2 and endothelial cell-specific tyrosine kinase receptor-2 (Tie-2) mRNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Ang-1 and Ang-2 protein levels were detected by immunohistochemistry. The RT-PCR results showed significantly decreased Ang-1 expression in the endometrium from IUD patients during both phases compared with the control women. Expression of Tie-2 mRNA and the Ang-1:Ang-2 mRNA ratio were also significantly decreased in endometria from IUD patients in the secretory phase compared with the control women. Immunohistochemical analysis showed elevated Ang-2 protein levels in secretory phase endometrium from IUD patients compared with the control women. These results suggest that the angiopoietin/Tie-2 system promotes vascular remodelling in the endometrium and that changes in the expression of Ang-1, Ang-2 and Tie-2 may contribute to abnormal uterine bleeding in some IUD users.
Department of Gynaecology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
H L
HL
Qian
H F
HF
Wang
M L
ML
Yang
D000328:Adult; D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007434:Intrauterine Devices / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2 / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*
D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2