Molecular human reproduction

Gene expression profiling was performed to identify genes involved in the development of endometriosis. In the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, several estrogen-regulated genes were up-regulated in endometria of women with endometrio…

Endometriosis, a common gynecological disorder that causes infertility and pelvic pain, is defined as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma within extra-uterine sites. However, despite extensive studies its etiology and pathogenesis…

The leptin system has been implicated in reproductive function, acting at endocrine and paracrine levels. Recently, deregulation of this gene family has been linked to endometrial changes caused by endometriosis. In the present study, we co…

In order to evaluate the involvement of cell proliferation and apoptosis in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, we investigated the effects of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on cell growth inhibition and apoptosis of cultured ovarian endometri…

Endometriosis is a polygenic gynaecological condition affecting 5-15% of women of childbearing age. Major symptoms of the disease are pelvic pain and infertility. No clear link has been established between symptoms and the stage of the dise…

Endometriosis and adenomyosis uteri are chronic, benign diseases caused by the presence of endometrial tissue in ectopic locations, e.g. peritoneal or deep inside the myometrial wall of the uterus and/or in the rectovaginal septum. Although…

Glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1), one member of the GST family, is responsible for metabolism of xenobiotics and carcinogens. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) plays an important role in the oxidation and activation of carcinogens and nitric oxide.…

Endometriotic tissue grows invasively. The plasminogen-activating system is suggested to participate in degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and modulation of cell adhesion and migration. We have previously demonstrated elevated levels…

To gain an insight into intracellular mechanisms involved in differentiation of human endometrial cells into decidual cells, we examined the presence of Akt, an emerging intracellular mediator in human endometrial stromal cells (ESC). We ex…

The RANTES (regulated upon activation normal T cells expressed and secreted) chemokine, is known to be expressed in endometriotic lesions in a concentration correlating with the severity of endometriosis. Since it has been widely demonstrat…

Endometriosis is a gynaecological disease with a certain genetic background, but the locations of possible genomic aberrations are still poorly clarified. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), which is a surface glycoprotein that prom…

During the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, the composition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in endometrium changes to favour implantation. In the present study, we have analysed whether some cases of unexplained infertility and recurre…

We demonstrated the expression of Gas6, the protein product of the growth arrest-specific gene 6 (gas6) and a member of the vitamin K-dependent protein family, and its receptor tyrosine kinases, Axl and Sky, in human uterine and ovarian end…

The industrial contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is associated with inflammatory disorders in women and other mammals. The current studies were performed to investigate the effect of TCDD on RANTES expression in an in-v…

Prostaglandin (PG) E2 has been shown to stimulate steroidogenesis in ectopic endometriotic stromal cells and may be involved in the development of endometriosis since this disorder is highly estrogen dependent. The biosynthesis of PGE2 is c…

There is little information outlining the role of Rho kinase, RhoA, and calcium sensitization in regulation of human uterine contractility during pregnancy. The aims of this study were to investigate the expression of RhoA, and the Rho kina…

We used a PCR-based subtraction method, representational difference analysis of cDNA (cDNA--RDA), to identify genes with a higher expression in leiomyomas in comparison with the corresponding myometrium during the proliferative phase of the…

Endometriosis is a polygenic disease with complex, multifactorial aetiologies affecting approximately 10% of women of reproductive age. Leptin is the product of the ob gene, which is related to reproductive function and immunological altera…

Endometriosis is characterized by the ectopic implantation of endometrium on peritoneal surfaces. Angiogenic and growth factors may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Midkine (MK) and pleiotrophin (PTN) are two re…

The transcriptional regulators aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT) modulate the transcription of genes involved in cellular differentiation and proliferation. In this study, we investiga…

The relationship between endometriosis and polymorphisms in the N-acetyl transferase 2 (NAT 2) gene was investigated in a UK population, as this gene has been previously implicated in the aetiology of the disease. Point mutations in the gen…

Endometriotic lesions secrete chemokines that recruit immune cells into the peritoneal cavity. The accumulation of these immune cells, especially activated macrophages and T lymphocytes, is thought to mediate inflammatory symptoms associate…

Endometriosis, an oestrogen-dependent disorder affecting women of reproductive age, is associated with active angiogenesis and an increased recruitment of leukocyte into the peritoneal cavity where the implants often develop. The role of oe…

To assess the release of the proteolytic enzyme cathepsin D in endometriosis, concentrations in peritoneal fluid and serum were measured by ELISA in 54 women with (n = 33) and without (n = 21) endometriosis. Surgery was scheduled in either …

An association between endometriosis and the glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1 null mutation has been reported in French and Slavic populations. We aimed to replicate this association of endometriosis in a UK population, and to test for as…