title: Unremitting cell proliferation in the secretory phase of eutopic endometriosis: involvement of pAkt and pGSK3β.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endometriosis is linked to altered cell proliferation and stem cell markers c-kit/stem cell factor (SCF) in ectopic endometrium. Our aim was to investigate whether c-kit/SCF also plays a role in eutopic endometrium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eutopic endometrium obtained from 35 women with endometriosis and 25 fertile eumenorrheic women was analyzed for in situ expression of SCF/c-kit, Ki67, RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (Akt), phosphorylated RAC-alpha serine/threonin-protein kinase (pAkt), Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β), and phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (pGSK3β), throughout the menstrual cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of Ki67 and SCF was higher in endometriosis than in control tissue (P < .05) and greater in secretory rather than proliferative (P < .01) endometrium in endometriosis. Expression of c-kit was also higher in endometriosis although similar in both phases. Expression of Akt and GSK3β was identical in all samples and cycle phases, whereas pAkt and pGSK3β, opposed to control tissue, remained overexpressed in the secretory phase in endometriosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unceasing cell proliferation in the secretory phase of eutopic endometriosis is linked to deregulation of c-kit/SCF-associated signaling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico, Federal District, Mexico.
authors.forename: Yanira
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Franco-Murillo
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Endoscopia e Infertilidad, Hospital de la Mujer, Secretaria de Salud, Mexico, Mexico.
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Miranda-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Departamento Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico, Federal District, Mexico.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rendón-Huerta
authors.affiliation: Departamento Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico, Federal District, Mexico.
authors.forename: Luis F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Montaño
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Ginecología y Obstetricia, Hospital Español, Mexico, Federal District, Mexico.
authors.forename: Gerardo Velázquez
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Cornejo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Ginecología y Obstetricia, Hospital Español, Mexico, Federal District, Mexico.
authors.forename: Lucila Poblano
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico, Federal District, Mexico.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Valdez-Morales
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico, Federal District, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Sanchez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico, Federal District, Mexico mcerbon85@yahoo.com.mx.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cerbón
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000032:analysis*; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000032:analysis*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; C000605506:GSK3B protein, human; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
keywords: Akt/GSK3β; c-kit receptor; endometriosis; eutopic endometrium; stem cell factor