title: Expression of Inflammatory and Neurogenic Mediators in Adenomyosis.
abstract: Adenomyosis is a uterine disorder characterized by dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, abnormal uterine bleeding, and infertility. Pathogenesis indicates that endometrial cells invade and proliferate within myometrium, and inflammatory mediators participate to the intense painful symptoms. The aim of the present study was to investigate the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of inflammatory (interleukin 1β [IL-1β], corticotropin-releasing hormone [CRH], urocortin [Ucn]) and neurogenic (nerve growth factors [NGFs], synaptophysin [SYN], microtubule-associated protein 2 [MAP2]) factors in adenomyotic nodules.
  
  
  
  This prospective study enrolled 16 women, 8 women with nodular adenomyosis and 8 control women undergoing to hysterectomy. Specimens from adenomyotic nodules and eutopic endometrium were collected after surgery. Endometrial tissue was also obtained from the control group and also used for preparing primary culture of human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs). Messenger RNA expression of inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, CRH, and Ucn) and neurogenic factors (NGF, SYN, and MAP2) was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The in vitro effects of CRH/Ucn on NGF or SYN mRNA expression were also investigated.
  
  
  
  Adenomyotic nodules highly expressed IL-1β, CRH, and Ucn mRNAs, as well as NGF, SYN, and MAP2 mRNAs ( P < .001 vs eutopic endometrium and control). Endometrium of women with adenomyosis showed high expression of IL-1β and CRH ( P < .001 vs control). Protein expression of CRH, NGF, and SYN in adenomyotic nodules was confirmed by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analyses. Urocortin increased NGF mRNA expression in cultured HESCs.
  
  
  
  The present study showed that adenomyotic nodules are novel site of expression of inflammatory and neurogenic factors, probably involved in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carrarelli
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.|3 Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.|4 Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Funghi
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arcuri
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tosti
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples "Federico II," Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bifulco
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luddi
authors.affiliation: 3 Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.|6 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chyi-Long
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petraglia
mesh_terms: D062788:Adenomyosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009215:Myometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054832:Urocortins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D016708:Synaptophysin; D054832:Urocortins; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
keywords: adenomyosis; inflammation; neurogenesis