title: Aberrant telomerase expression in the endometrium of infertile women with deep endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Considering the complex cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in endometriosis formation and progression and the similarities concerning the association of endometriosis with tumorigenesis and metastasis, we hypothesized a possible relationship between telomerase and the development/progression of endometriosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the expression of telomerase in the endometrium and peritoneal endometriotic lesions from women with endometriosis and controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was performed comprising 25 infertile women with endometriosis and 44 fertile women without endometriosis as controls. Samples of endometrium and endometriotic peritoneal lesions of the same patient were harvested in the late luteal phase of the cycle. The expression of hTERT and GAPDH genes was measured by mRNA using qRT-PCR based on TaqMan methodology. Student t test was used to compare the values between the groups; p >0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean expression of hTERT in the endometriosis group was significantly high when compared to the control group (1.24 ± 4.67 vs. 0.31 ± 1.10, p = 0.026). When the expression of hTERT was compared in relation to disease stage, the group of moderate/severe endometriosis showed increased expression in relation to control group (2.59 ± 7.35 vs. 0.31 ± 1.10, p = 0.026). Regarding endometriotic peritoneal lesions, only one 1/25 expressed hTERT mRNA. This patient had deep endometriosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was an association between the expression of telomerase (hTERT mRNA) and the genesis and progression of endometriosis.
authors: Ideia Fértil Institute, Human Reproduction and Genetics Center, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André/SP, Brazil.
authors: Fernanda A
authors: FA
authors: Mafra
authors: Ideia Fértil Institute, Human Reproduction and Genetics Center, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André/SP, Brazil.
authors: Denise M
authors: DM
authors: Christofolini
authors: Ideia Fértil Institute, Human Reproduction and Genetics Center, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André/SP, Brazil.
authors: Viviane
authors: V
authors: Cavalcanti
authors: Ideia Fértil Institute, Human Reproduction and Genetics Center, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André/SP, Brazil.
authors: Fabia L
authors: FL
authors: Vilarino
authors: Ideia Fértil Institute, Human Reproduction and Genetics Center, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André/SP, Brazil.
authors: Gustavo M
authors: GM
authors: André
authors: Technical Support, Applied Biosystems, São Paulo/SP, Brazil.
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Kato
authors: Ideia Fértil Institute, Human Reproduction and Genetics Center, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André/SP, Brazil. Electronic address: bianca.bianco@hotmail.com.
authors: Bianca
authors: B
authors: Bianco
authors: Ideia Fértil Institute, Human Reproduction and Genetics Center, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André/SP, Brazil.
authors: Caio P
authors: CP
authors: Barbosa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase
keywords: Endometriosis; Endometrium; Infertility; Telomerase