title: Differential expression of steroidogenic enzymes according to endometriosis type.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate, in peritoneal, ovarian, and rectovaginal endometriotic lesions, expression of steroidogenic enzymes involved in the activation and inactivation of estrogens: 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD17B1) and 2 (HSD17B2), estrone sulfotransferase (EST), and steroid sulfatase (STS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic gynecology research unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Disease-free (n = 41) patients and patients with endometriosis (n = 79) were included for quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) (15 disease-free, 33 endometriosis) and immunohistochemistry (26 disease-free, 46 endometriosis) studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Q-PCR and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation of mRNA and protein expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Glandular HSD17B1, HSD17B2, and STS protein expression were demonstrated. HSD17B2 mRNA values were higher in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle in the endometrium of disease-free women, but not in the eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis. HSD17B1 mRNA was equally expressed in the various tissues investigated, and EST mRNA was expressed at low levels in the different lesion types. HSD17B2 mRNA expression was decreased in ovarian and rectovaginal endometriosis compared with eutopic endometrium, while STS mRNA was increased in rectovaginal lesions compared with ovarian lesions. Ratios between pro- and antiestrogenic enzymes (STS/EST and HSD17B1/HSD17B2) were more in favor of estrogens in ovarian and rectovaginal endometriosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In endometriosis development, local activation of estrogens appears to be important. STS and HSD17B1 inhibitors may therefore prove useful to treat the disease.
authors.affiliation: Université Catholique de Louvain, Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colette
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Defrère
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Van Kerk
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Langendonckt
authors.forename: Marie-Madeleine
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dolmans
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donnez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004960:Estradiol Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D043266:Steryl-Sulfatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D015238:Sulfotransferases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D004960:Estradiol Dehydrogenases; C513331:HSD17B1 protein, human; C523763:HSD17B2 protein, human; D015238:Sulfotransferases; C020122:estrone sulfotransferase; D043266:Steryl-Sulfatase
keywords: Peritoneal endometriosis; ovarian endometriosis; rectovaginal endometriosis; steroid enzymes