title: Deoxyribonucleic acid methyltransferases and methyl-CpG-binding domain proteins in human endometrium and endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine [1] expression levels of both DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and methyl-CpG-binding domain proteins (MBDs) in human endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle and in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis and [2] hormone responsiveness of DNMT and MBD expression in explant cultures of proliferative phase endometrium.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Premenopausal women with and without endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Explant cultures of proliferative phase endometrium were treated with vehicle, 17β-E(2), or a combination of E(2) and P (E(2) + P) for 24 hours.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression levels of DNMT1, DNMT2, and DNMT3B and MBD1, MBD2, and MeCP2 with use of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression levels of DNMT1 and MBD2 were significantly higher in secretory-phase endometrium compared with proliferative endometrium and menstrual endometrium. In explant cultures, treatment with E(2) + P resulted in significant up-regulation of DNMT1 and MBD2. Expression levels of several DNMTs and MBDs were significantly lower in endometriotic lesions compared with eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis and disease-free controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest a role for DNMTs and MBDs in the growth and differentiation of the human endometrium and support the notion that endometriosis may be an epigenetic disease.
authors.affiliation: GROW, School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, the Netherlands. kimvankaam@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kim J A F
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: van Kaam
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Delvoux
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: D'Hooghe
authors.forename: Gerard A J
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Dunselman
authors.forename: Patrick G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Groothuis
mesh_terms: D000076123:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C066141:MBD1 protein, human; C489325:MBD2 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000076123:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; C000619380:DNMT1 protein, human; C112218:TRDMT1 protein, human