title: Expression of microtubule associated protein 2 and synaptophysin in endometrium: high levels in deep infiltrating endometriosis lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether healthy endometrium, eutopic endometrium, and endometriotic lesions express nerve growth factor (NGF), microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2), and synaptophysin (SYP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Molecular study in tissue extracts.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of women (n = 70), divided as [1] healthy controls (n = 30) and [2] with endometriosis (n = 40), was included.
  
  
  METHODS
  From the healthy control group an endometrial specimen was collected by hysteroscopy (proliferative phase, n = 16; secretive phase, n = 14). Endometriotic and endometrial specimens were collected from women undergoing laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis, endometrioma (OMA) (n = 20), or deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) (n = 20).
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess expression of NGF, MAP-2, and SYP messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in endometrium and in endometriosis by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and protein localization by immunofluorescence. Cultures of human endometrial stromal cells were used to evaluate the effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α on NGF and SYP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endometrial tissue from control expressed mRNA for NGF, MAP-2, and SYP, without any difference between proliferative and secretive phase. The DIE and OMA lesions showed the highest NGF mRNA expression, significantly higher than in eutopic endometrium and control. In DIE lesions SYP mRNA expression was higher than in OMA or in eutopic endometrium or controls. Immunofluorescence analysis of NGF, MAP-2, and SYP showed a slightly more intense positive signal in endometriotic lesions. Exposure to TNF-α increased NGF and SYP mRNA expression in endometrial culture cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study revealed the presence of two selected neuronal markers, MAP-2 and SYP mRNAs and protein expression, in eutopic endometrium and in endometriotic lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gori
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luddi
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, 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: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piomboni
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tosti
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Funghi
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 Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lazzeri
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: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C489788:MAP2 protein, human; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; C502240:NGF protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C569014:SYP protein, human; D016708:Synaptophysin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor
keywords: Endometriosis; microtubule-associated protein 2; nerve growth factor; neurogenesis; synaptophysin