title: Increased expression of antimüllerian hormone and its receptor in endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate antimüllerian hormone (AMH) and AMH receptor II (AMHRII) mRNA and protein expression in endometrium and in ovarian or deep lesions of women with endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospitals in Italy and Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with endometriosis (n = 55) and healthy women (n = 45).
  
  
  METHODS
  Specimens of endometrium obtained by hysteroscopy from patients with endometriosis and from healthy control subjects; specimens of ovarian endometriosis (n = 29) or of deep endometriosis (n = 26) were collected by laparoscopy. Serum samples were collected in some endometriotic patients (n = 23) and healthy control subjects (n = 20).
  
  
  METHODS
  AMH and AMHRII mRNA levels were evaluated by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and protein localization by immunohistochemistry. AMH levels in tissue homogenates and in serum were assessed by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endometrium from women with endometriosis showed higher AMH and AMHRII mRNA levels than control women, with no significant differences between proliferative and secretory phases. Specimens collected from ovarian or deep endometriosis showed the highest AMH and AMHRII mRNA expression. Immunolocalization study confirmed the high AMH and AMHRII protein expression in endometriotic lesions. No difference of serum AMH levels between the groups was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased AMH and AMHRII mRNA and protein expression in endometrium and in endometriotic lesions suggests a possible involvement of AMH in endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carrarelli
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Luiza Lunardi
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Applied Biology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Belmonte
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Errico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zupi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, São Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mauricio Simoẽs
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Abrão
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arcuri
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piomboni
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. Electronic address: felice.petraglia@unisi.it.
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petraglia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018000:Receptors, Peptide / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018000:Receptors, Peptide; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; C084621:anti-Mullerian hormone receptor; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone
keywords: AMH; AMHRII; TGF-β superfamily; endometriosis; ovarian and deep endometriosis