title: Eutopic endometrium and peritoneal, ovarian and colorectal endometriotic tissues express a different profile of nectin-1, -3, -4 and nectin-like molecule 2.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  How is the expression of nectins and nectin-like molecules (Necls) detected by immunostaining altered by endometriosis?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that Nectin-1, -3, -4 and Necl-2 may contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Immunostaining of nectins and Necls varies according to the anatomical location of endometriosis.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Nectin and Necl molecules are immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules involved in apoptosis, cell proliferation and in metastases. Previous studies have demonstrated the involvement of adhesion molecules in the development of endometriotic lesions but no data exist on immunostaining of nectins and Necls molecules in endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary-care hospital (Tenon Hospital, Paris, France). Samples were collected from 55 women undergoing endometrial biopsy or surgery for endometriosis and 20 controls having hysterectomy or endometrial biopsy for other reasons; multiple samples were collected from 15 women. We studied the immunostaining of Nectin-1, -3, -4 and Necl-2 in secretory and proliferative endometrium from women with (n = 20) or without endometriosis (i.e. control group, n = 20), and in peritoneal (n = 20), ovarian (n = 20) and colorectal endometriosis (n = 20).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Semi-quantitative immunostaining demonstrated that (1) Necl-2 staining was stronger in all types of endometriotic lesions than in the eutopic endometrium from patients with endometriosis (P < 0.0125) and in ovarian endometriotic cysts compared with other locations (P < 0.001); (2) Nectin-3 staining was stronger in the eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis compared with controls (P = 0.03) and in all endometriotic lesions compared with the eutopic endometrium from patients with endometriosis (P < 0.0125); (3) Nectin-4, staining was stronger in the eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis compared with controls (P = 0.04) and (4) Nectin-1 staining was significantly increased in colorectal endometriosis compared with other locations (P = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We did not assess the pattern of expression in endometriosis of all nectins and Necl molecules. Indeed, Necl-5 is implicated in many pathophysiological processes such as cell movement and proliferation with potential relevance to endometriosis.   GENERALISABILITY TO OTHER POPULATIONS:  At present, few data on implication of nectins and Necl molecules in endometriosis exist. Hence, our results should be confirmed by further quantitative studies at protein or RNA levels.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  No funding source. All the authors declare no conflict of interest.
authors.affiliation: ER2 UPMC, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris 6, France. marcos.ballester@tnn.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ballester
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gonin
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodenas
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bernaudin
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rouzier
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coutant
authors.forename: Emile
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Daraï
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000075982:Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D000075983:Nectins; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: C403514:CADM1 protein, human; D000075982:Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D007136:Immunoglobulins; C000619010:NECTIN1 protein, human; C000619014:NECTIN3 protein, human; D000075983:Nectins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger