{"paper_id":"f06e6027-d5a4-4487-ba6a-632b1afce85f","body_text":"Abstract\nObjective\nTo investigate the expression of human β-defensin-2 (hBD-2) in the endometrium of patients with endometriosis (EMS) and explore the potential role of hBD-2 in the pathogenesis of EMS.\nDesign\nProspective controlled study.\nSample\n50 women including EMS patients undergoing laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy and non-EMS patients undergoing hysterectomy for uterine fibroids.\nSetting\nLarge university teaching hospital.\nMethods\nPatients were divided into EMS and non-EMS groups. The gene expressions of hBD-2, interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the endometrial tissues of each group were detected with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and hBD-2 protein expression with immunohistochemical method.\nResults\nThe gene expression levels of hBD-2, TNF-α, and IL-1β as well as the positive expression rate of hBD-2 protein in the ectopic endometrium of EMS patients were significantly higher than those in the eutopic endometrium of EMS and non-EMS patients (all P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the gene expression levels of hBD-2 in the ectopic and eutopic endometrium of EMS patients were positively correlated with the gene expression levels of IL-1β and TNF-α (P < 0.01).\nConclusion\nHigh levels of hBD-2 gene and protein expressions in the ectopic endometrium of EMS patients may be an important contributor in the pathogenesis of EMS. TNF-α and IL-1β may promote the upregulation of hBD-2 expression.\nSimilar content being viewed by others\nAbbreviations\n- hBD-2:\n-\nHuman β-defensin-2\n- EMS:\n-\nEndometriosis\n- TNF:\n-\nTumor necrosis factor\n- IL:\n-\nInterleukin\nReferences\nFarquhar C (2007) Endometriosis. BMJ 334(7587):249–253\nNap AW, Groothuis PG, Demir AY, Evers JL, Dunselman GA (2004) Pathogenesis of endometriosis. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 18(2):233–244\nOosterlynck DJ, Meuleman C, Sobis H, Vandeputte M, Koninckx PR (1993) Angiogenic activity of peritoneal fluid from women with endometriosis. Fertil Steril 59(4):778–782\nBartosik D, Jacobs SL, Kelly LJ (1986) Endometrial tissue in peritoneal fluid. Fertil Steril 46(5):796–800\nBraun DP, Dmowski WP (1998) Endometriosis: abnormal endometrium and dysfunctional immune response. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 10(5):365–369\nLebovic DI, Mueller MD, Taylor RN (2001) Immunobiology of endometriosis. 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This research was supported by a grant from National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81070472, to S.-Q. Chen).\nConflict of interest\nThe authors have stated explicitly that there are no conflicts of interest in connection with this article.\nAuthor information\nAuthors and Affiliations\nCorresponding authors\nAdditional information\nShu-Qin Chen and Jin-Bo Li equally contributed to this work.\nRights and permissions\nAbout this article\nCite this article\nChen, SQ., Li, JB., Jiang, HY. et al. Expression of human β-defensin-2 in the eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues in patients with endometriosis. Arch Gynecol Obstet 287, 1151–1157 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2686-7\nReceived:\nAccepted:\nPublished:\nIssue date:\nDOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2686-7","source_license":"CC0","license_restricted":false}