title: RHOC: a key gene for endometriosis.
abstract: Considerable efforts have been invested in elucidating the potential mechanisms involved in the physiopathology of endometriosis. The aims of our study were to investigate whether RHOC expression is differentially altered in the endometrium and in endometriotic lesions. A total of 40 patients diagnosed with endometriosis and 15 healthy fertile women were selected for the study. Paired biopsies of endometrial tissue (eutopic endometrium) and endometriotic lesions (ectopic endometrium) were obtained from the patients with endometriosis. Endometrium from women without endometriosis was used as a control. Expression of the RHOC gene was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction in autologous endometrial tissues of women with endometriosis and in the endometrium of control women. Increased RHOC expression was detected in endometriotic lesions compared to the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis and control women. RHOC changes may be among the key elements involved in the origin and the maintenance of endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meola
authors.forename: Daniel Blassioli
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Dentillo
authors.forename: Júlio César
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rosa e Silva
authors.forename: Gabriela dos Santos
authors.initials: Gdos S
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
authors.forename: Cláudia Cristina Paro de
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Paz
authors.forename: Rui Alberto
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ferriani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D015854:Up-Regulation; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000075024:rhoC GTP-Binding Protein
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C066690:RHOC protein, human; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins; D000075024:rhoC GTP-Binding Protein
keywords: RHOC; cell motility; endometriosis; small GTPases