title: Co-expression of bone morphogenetic protein 6 with estrogen receptor a in endometriosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP-6) has decisive role in controlling multiple organogenetic processes, as well as modulating cell differentiation and proliferation. Considering those pleiotropic effects, we focused on determining expression of that multifunctional growth factor in ectopic endometriotic tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study, 85 consecutive women with endometriosis were included. All patients underwent gynecological operations due to endometriosis associated problems and tissue specimens were collected from ectopic endometriotic lesions. Immunohistochemical staining of paraffin sections for both BMP-6 and estrogen receptors a (ERa) was performed in all 85 cases using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ectopic endometrium showed intense cytoplastic immunoreactivity to BMP-6 in both epithelium and stroma. In addition, we have demonstrated that BMP-6 expression is highly associated with strong expression of ERa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The availability of BMP-6 in the ectopic endometrium may be at least partly involved in the mechanisms of attachment, survival and expansion of endometriosis. Moreover, the statistically significant correlation in expression of BMP-6 and ERa demonstrated in this study may be associated with the development of rich in estrogen microenvironment, but requires further investigation. In conclusion, this is the first study in our knowledge demonstrating strong expression of BMP-6 in endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Helena Venizelou" Hospital, Agias Barbaras 32, Palaio Faliro, 17563 Athens, Greece. farfaras@gmail.com
authors.forename: Farfaras
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Athanasios
authors.forename: Nonni
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Afrodite
authors.forename: Patsouris
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Effstratios
authors.forename: Kassanos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Demetrios
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055418:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002828:Choristoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D004717:Endometrium; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D055418:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6; C506487:ESR1 protein, human; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha