title: Matrix metalloproteinase-3 mRNA: a promising peripheral blood marker for diagnosis of endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endometriosis is an invasive disease. Its diagnosis depends on laparoscopy, which is traumatic and associated with potential complications. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid, reliable, and less invasive diagnostic test for endometriosis. We hypothesized that genes related to cell invasion would be transcriptionally upregulated in endometriosis, and tested whether blood levels of their transcripts might be used as biomarkers of endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to quantify the mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and MMP-9 in peripheral blood from 20 patients with mild/intermediate endometriosis, 20 patients with severe endometriosis and 20 endometriosis-free subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results indicate that circulating mRNA for MMP-3 is significantly higher in patients with endometriosis than in control patients, regardless of the degree of severity. Conversely, the level of circulating mRNA for VEGFA and MMP-9 did not distinguish patients from controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMP-3 mRNA is a promising peripheral blood marker that discriminates between patients with endometriosis and healthy subjects. Our results support the possibility of finding genes suitable for diagnostic qRT-PCR for endometriosis in peripheral blood and should be explored further.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Sanctis
authors.forename: Amira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elmakky
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caramelli
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seracchioli
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mabrouk
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mignemi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Venturoli
authors.forename: Gioia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guerrini
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manuzzi
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montanari
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valvassori
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zucchini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9