Impaired down-regulation of E-cadherin and beta-catenin protein expression in endometrial epithelial cells in the mid-secretory endometrium of infertile patients with endometriosis.

Abstract

CONTEXT:

Only a few, small, human studies on E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression in normal cycling human endometrium have been reported. It remains unclear whether expression of these molecules might be altered in the endometrium of infertile patients with endometriosis.

OBJECTIVES:

The aim of the present study was to investigate E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression in the endometrium of infertile patients with endometriosis, those with uterine fibromas, and patients with unexplained infertility.

DESIGN:

Expression levels of E-cadherin and beta-catenin mRNA and/or protein in the endometrium of infertile patients with endometriosis (n = 151), those with uterine fibromas (n = 41), patients with unexplained infertility (n = 9), as well as healthy fertile controls (n = 57) were measured. This study utilized laser capture microdissection, real-time RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS:

No significant differences in E-cadherin or beta-catenin mRNA expression in microdissected epithelial cells were observed among the different groups throughout the menstrual cycle. However, very low or no protein expression of E-cadherin, total beta-catenin, or dephosphorylated beta-catenin in luminal and glandular epithelial cells was detected in the mid-secretory endometrium of healthy fertile controls. E-cadherin, total beta-catenin, and dephosphorylated beta-catenin protein expression in the mid-secretory endometrium of infertile patients with endometriosis or unexplained infertility was significantly higher compared to that of healthy fertile controls in both luminal and glandular epithelial cells.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings suggest that impaired down-regulation of E-cadherin and beta-catenin protein expression, along with Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway activation during the window of implantation, might be one of the potential molecular mechanisms of infertility in patients with endometriosis.

• Authors: Sachiko Matsuzaki, Claude Darcha, Elodie Maleysson, Michel Canis, Gérard Mage
• Journal: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (J Clin Endocrinol Metab) Vol. 95 Issue 7 Pg. 3437-45 (Jul 2010) ISSN: 1945-7197 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20410224 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cadherins
• RNA, Messenger
• beta Catenin

Topics

• Adult
• Analysis of Variance
• Cadherins (genetics, metabolism)
• Down-Regulation (physiology)
• Endometriosis (complications, genetics, metabolism)
• Endometrium (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Infertility (complications, genetics, metabolism)
• Leiomyoma (complications, genetics, metabolism)
• Microdissection
• Phosphorylation (physiology)
• RNA, Messenger (genetics, metabolism)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Signal Transduction (physiology)
• Uterine Diseases (complications, genetics, metabolism)
• Uterine Neoplasms (complications, genetics, metabolism)
• beta Catenin (genetics, metabolism)