title: Fas and Fas-Ligand in Eutopic and Ectopic Endometrium of Women With Endometriosis: The Possible Immune Privilege of Ectopic Endometrium.
abstract: The Fas/Fas-Ligand system is an important mediator of apoptosis. We analyzed their expression in tissue specimens obtained from 33 women with severe endometriosis and 18 women without endometriosis. Immunostaining for Fas-Ligand in the eutopic endometrium was stronger in the epithelial cells of secretory phase, while the epithelial cells of endometriotic lesions showed a significantly stronger staining for Fas-Ligand independently from the menstrual phase (P < 0.01). Immunostaining for Fas in the eutopic endometrium showed a reduced staining during the proliferative phase, whereas it was strong in the secretory phase. The epithelial cells of the ectopic endometrium showed a reduced staining for Fas independently from the menstrual phase with respect to the eutopic tissue (P < 0.01). The reduced expression of Fas in the ectopic endometrium with the contemporary higher expression of Fas-Ligand in the corresponding cells suggests a possible immune privilege of this tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urologic and Gynaecologic Science, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sbracia
authors.affiliation: Praxi Provita, Praxis DS, Rome, Italy claudia.valeri84@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valeri
authors.affiliation: Department of Urologic and Gynaecologic Science, University of Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonini
authors.affiliation: Praxi Provita, Praxis DS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biagiotti
authors.affiliation: Praxi Provita, Praxis DS, Rome, Italy Department of Urologic and Gynaecologic Science, University of Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pacchiarotti
authors.affiliation: Praxi Provita, Praxis DS, Rome, Italy Department of Urologic and Gynaecologic Science, University of Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pacchiarotti
mesh_terms: D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010532:Peritoneal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C491901:FAS protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D019014:fas Receptor
keywords: Fas; Fas ligand; ectopic endometrium; endometriosis; eutopic endometrium