Expressions of uPA and PAI-1 in endometrial tissue from patients with endometriosis

Aim: To investigate the expressions and functions of uPA and PAI-1 in the etiology and pathogenesis of endometriosis. Methods: Immunohistochemistry method was used to detect the expressions of uPA and PAI-1 in 40 cases of ectopic endometrium,40 cases of eutopic endometrium and 30 cases of normal endometrium. Results: uPA and PAI-1mainly localized in cytoplasm of stromal and epithelial cells from ecpotic,eutopic and normal endometrium,and also were positive in vascular endothelial cells. Endometriotic stromal cells showed a significant increase in the expression rates of uPA and PAI-1 compared with stromal cells of eutopic and normal endometrium( P 0. 017). There was no statistical significance between the expression rate of uPA protein in stromal cells and epithelial cells from ectopic endometrium in stageⅠ and Ⅱ,and stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ( χ2= 0. 269,1. 339,P 0. 05). The expression rate of PAI-1 protein in endometriotic stromal cells in stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ was significantly higher than that in stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ( χ2= 5. 432,P = 0. 020). A positive association was observed between uPA and PAI-1 protein in endometriotic stromal cells( rp= 0. 311,P = 0. 039). Conclusion: The overexpression of uPA and PAI-1 in endometriotic stromal cells might be of importance for the adherence,invasion and growth,which may result in endometriosis in the end.