Expression of Ang-2, Tie-2 and ER-α in Endometriosis

Objective: To detect the expressions of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), Tie-2 and estrogen receptor α (ER-α) in endometriosis and the mechanism thereof. Methods: The expressions of Ang -2, Tie -2 and ER -α were detected by immunohistochemical streptavidin -biotin eroxidase (SP) method in 30 eutopic endometrium and 30 normal endometriosis tissues as control. There were15 in proliferative phase and 15 in secretory phase each in normal control and eutopic endometrium groups. Results: The expressions of Ang -2 and Tie -2 were mainly in the glandular epithelium, and less in vascular endothelium and stroma locating in cytoplasm. The expression of ER-α was in endometrial epithelium and stroma locating in nucleus. The expression of Ang-2 was either in proliferative phase or in secretory phase. The expression of Tie-2 was in secretory phase. The expression of ER-α was significantly higher in proliferative phase of eutopic endometrium than that in normal control (P 0.05). The expressions of Tie -2 in proliferative phase and ER -α in secretory phase of eutopic endometrium were no significant difference in the two groups (P 0.05). The expressions of Ang-2 and Tie-2 were higher in secretory phase than that in proliferative phase, while the expression of ER-α was significantly higher in proliferative phase than that in secretory phase in two groups(P 0.05). Conclusion: The findings suggested that the higher expressions of Ang-2, Tie-2 in secretory phase, ER-α in proliferative phase in eutopic endometrium may play a critical role in the pathophysiology and development of endometriosis.