Relationship between STAT3/SOCS3 and endometriosis

AIM: To analyze the relationship between the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription3(STAT3) and suppressor of cytokine signaling3(SOCS3),and endometriosis.METHODS: Ectopic(ectopic group,n=30) and eutopic endometrial tissues(eutopic group,n=30) were obtained from the women with histopathologically confirmed endometriosis.Normal endometrial tissues(control group,n=25) were collected from the women without endometriosis.Western blotting analysis was used to assess the protein expression of SOCS3,total STAT3 and its activated form phosphorylated STAT3.RESULTS: No significant difference of total STAT3 protein level among the 3 groups was observed,while the level of p-STAT3/STAT3(representing the activating extent) was significantly higher in ectopic group than that in control group and eutopic group.Expression of SOCS3 protein was opposite to the activation level of STAT3.Negative correlation was showed between the activation level of STAT3 and the expression of SOCS3 protein(r=-0.499,P0.01) in the patients with endometriosis.CONCLUSION: Activation of STAT3 is higher in the ectopic endometrium of endometriosis patients than that in the patients with eutopic endometrium and controls,which is negatively correlated with the expression of SOCS3 protein,indicating that dysregulation of STAT3 activation and SOCS3 expression may participate in the pathogenesis and progression of endometriosis.