title: Small leucine rich proteoglycans are differently distributed in normal and pathological endometrium.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During the woman's fertile period, the non-pregnant uterus is subject to constant cyclic changes. The complex mechanisms that control the balance among proliferation, differentiation, cell death and the structural remodeling of the extracellular matrix can contribute to the benign or malignant endometrial pathological state. The small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) are important components of cell surface and extracellular matrices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using immunohistochemistry, we showed that the distribution patterns of SLRPs were completely modified in the pathological compared to normal endometrium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of SLRPs was low/absent in all endometrial pathologies examined compared to normal endometrium. We observed an increase of lumican from proliferative to secretory phase of the endometrium and a decrease of fibromodulin, biglycan and decorin. In menopause endometrial tissue, the level of expression of fibromodulin, biglycan, decorin and lumican dramatically decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results revealed the prominence and importance of proteoglycans in the tissue architecture and extracellular matrix organization.
authors: Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Section of Human Anatomy, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy angela.lucariello@gmail.com.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Lucariello
authors: Department of Gynaecology, Obstetric and Reproductive Science, Second University of Studies of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Trabucco
authors: Department of Gynaecology, Obstetric and Reproductive Science, Second University of Studies of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Olga
authors: O
authors: Boccia
authors: Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Section of Human Anatomy, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Angelica
authors: A
authors: Perna
authors: Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Section of Human Anatomy, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Carmine
authors: C
authors: Sellitto
authors: Department of Gynaecology, Obstetric and Reproductive Science, Second University of Studies of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Maria A
authors: MA
authors: Castaldi
authors: Department of Biology, Section of Evolutionary and Comparative Anatomy, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems (INBB), Rome, Italy.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: De Falco
authors: Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Section of Human Anatomy, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: De Luca
authors: Department of Gynaecology, Obstetric and Reproductive Science, Second University of Studies of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Cobellis
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007930:Leucine / Q000737:chemistry; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011509:Proteoglycans; D007930:Leucine
keywords: Proteoglycan; endometrium; immunohistochemistry