title: Molecular implication of ADAM-15 and -17 in intrauterine adhesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the regulation of the proteins ADAM-15 and ADAM-17 in intrauterine adhesions (IUA).
  
  
  METHODS
  68 patients were found to have IUA in a study performed at our Department of Gynecology, and 18 control volunteer participants were recruited in the study. The patients with IUA were assigned to three groups according to the classification of March et al.: IUA-I (n=28), IUA-II (n=22), and IUA-III (n=18). All the volunteers were assigned to the control group (Con, n=18). The expression of ADAM-15 and ADAM-17 in the adhesive band tissue in patients and the endometrium in volunteers was detected by western blot, real-time PCR, and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of ADAM-15 and ADAM-17 was significantly upregulated in both protein level and transcript level in IUA patients compared to that in controls. ADAM-15 expression was significantly higher in IUA-III (4.59±0.15) compared to IUA-II (3.18±0.12) and IUA-I (2.11±0.17; P<0.01). ADAM-17 expression was also significantly higher in IUA-III (3.25±0.11) compared to IUA-II (2.21±0.15) and IUA-I (1.78±0.21; P<0.01). The transcript levels of ADAM-15 and ADAM-17 showed similar patterns, and were markedly higher in grade III IUA patients compared to grade II and grade I. The severity of IUA was positively correlated to the protein and transcript expression level of ADAM-15 and ADAM-17 in uterine tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of IUA is associated with regulation of ADAM15 and ADAM-17, which may be potential biological markers for evaluating the severity of intrauterine adhesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, and obstetrics, Qilu Hospital Affiliated with Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China; Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, Department of gynecology in General Hospital, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750006, China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chunfang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Xueyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhining
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Peishu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072198:ADAM17 Protein; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051722:ADAM Proteins; C098660:ADAM15 protein, human; D000072198:ADAM17 Protein; C000606462:ADAM17 protein, human
keywords: ADAM-15; ADAM-17; Intrauterine adhesions; Remodeling of uterus