Correlation between overexpression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in occluded fallopian tubes and postsurgical pregnancy among infertile women.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the expression profiles of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) and its receptors in occluded tubes of infertile women with those of control patients and to evaluate the potential correlation with postsurgical pregnancy outcome.


METHODS
The expression profiles of TGF-β1, TGF-β1R1, and TGF-β1R2 in occluded fallopian tubes were compared using immunohistochemistry between 60 infertile patients with adhered tubes and 60 control patients with normal tubes; potential correlations with postsurgical fertility were evaluated at 2-year follow up.


RESULTS
Immunostainings of TGF-β1, TGF-β1R1, and TGF-β1R2 were all significantly elevated in patients with adhered tubes compared with normal specimens (P<0.001). In adhered specimens, correlation analyses showed positive correlations between TGF-β1 and TGF-β1R1 (P=0.008), and TGF-β1 and TGF-β1R2 (P=0.035). At 2-year follow up, 32 of the 60 infertile women had achieved normal pregnancies, 5 had had ectopic pregnancies, and 23 remained infertile. Correlation analysis showed that TGF-β1 expression level was negatively correlated with pregnancy outcome (r=-0.445, P<0.001), independent of adhesion severity or patient age.


CONCLUSIONS
TGF-β1 expression was independently correlated with the postsurgical pregnancy outcome among infertile women.
Li
Zhengyu
Z
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Sun
Ying
Y
Min
Wenjiao
W
Zhang
Dan
D
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000235:genetics*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000473:pathology; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II