title: Abnormal Expression of Prostaglandins E2 and F2α Receptors and Transporters in Patients with Endometriosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the level of expression of prostaglandin receptivity and uptake factors in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of women with endometriosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human reproduction research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-eight patients with endometriosis and thirty healthy control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endometrial and endometriotic tissue samples were obtained during laparoscopic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Real-time polymerase chain reaction assay of mRNA encoding prostaglandin E2 receptors (EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4), prostaglandin F2α receptor (FP), prostaglandin transporter (PGT), and multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 (MRP4); immunohistochemical localization of expressed proteins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Marked increases in receptors EP3, EP4, and FP and transporters PGT and MRP4 in ectopic endometrial tissue were noted, without noticeable change associated with disease stage. An increase in EP3 expression and decreases in FP and PGT were observed in the eutopic endometrium of endometriosis patients in conjunction with the phases of the menstrual cycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the first to demonstrate a possible relationship between endometriosis and enhanced prostaglandin activity. In view of the wide range of prostaglandin functions, increasing cell receptivity and facilitating uptake in endometrial tissue could contribute to the initial steps of overgrowth and have an important role to play in the pathogenesis and symptoms of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada G1V 4G2 ; Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada G1V 0A6.
authors.forename: Halima
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rakhila
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada G1V 4G2.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bourcier
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada G1V 4G2 ; Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada G1V 0A6.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akoum
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada G1V 4G2 ; Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Canada G1V 0A6.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pouliot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters / Q000378:metabolism*; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018078:Receptors, Prostaglandin E / Q000378:metabolism*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters; D011982:Receptors, Prostaglandin; D018078:Receptors, Prostaglandin E; C073492:ABCC4 protein, human; C503526:SLCO2A1 protein, human; C034671:prostaglandin F2alpha receptor