Increased expression of importin13 in endometriosis and endometrial carcinoma

Biao Zeng, Jianguo Hu, Rui Yuan, Lina Hu, Ling Zhong, Kai Kang
Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2012 · vol. 18(6) , pp. CR361–CR367 · doi:10.12659/msm.882879 · PMID:22648251 · W2030199001
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

Importin13 expression was significantly increased in cytoplasm of glandular epithelial and stromal cells in endometriosis and endometrial carcinoma tissues compared to normal endometrium.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-09 ⓘ

This study examined expression and localization of importin 13 (IPO13) in normal human endometrium (proliferative vs secretory phases), endometriosis tissue, and endometrial carcinoma using immunohistochemistry, fluorescence microscopy with co-labeling for several putative progenitor markers, and mRNA/protein assays (qRT-PCR and Western blot). IPO13 immunopositivity was higher in proliferative phase endometrium than secretory phase, increased in endometriosis compared with secretory endometrium, and further increased in endometrial carcinoma; IPO13-positive cells were observed near endometrial glands and in stroma, and IPO13 mRNA/protein levels followed the same overall pattern (with noted mRNA increases in endometriosis and highest levels in carcinoma). A key limitation is that the paper characterizes marker expression and localization without direct functional experiments demonstrating stem/progenitor cell activity. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it reports increased IPO13 expression in endometriotic tissue compared with secretory endometrium and analyzes IPO13 localization in putative progenitor contexts.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Importin13 (IPO13) is a novel potential marker of corneal epithelial progenitor cells. We investigated the expression and localization of IPO13 in endometrial, endometriotic and endometrial carcinoma tissue. MATERIAL/METHODS: IPO13 expression in endometrial, endometriotic and endometrial carcinoma tissue was examined by immunohistochemistry, qPCR and Western blot. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry studies showed that IPO13 protein was expressed mainly in cytoplasm of glandular epithelial cell and stromal cells. The rate of importin13-positive cells in proliferative phase endometrium was higher (by about 6-fold) than that in secretory endometrium (P<0.05) and the rate of importin13-positive cells in endometriosis and endometrial carcinoma was higher than that in normal secretory phase endometrial tissues (by about 4- and 9-fold, respectively). Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed co-localization of IPO13 with CD34, CD45, c-kit, telomerase, CD90 and CD146. QPCR revealed significantly increased IPO13 mRNA in endometriosis and endometrial carcinoma versus secretory phase endometrium (by about 2- and 10-fold, respectively). Western blot analysis showed that IPO13 protein is enhanced in endometriosis and endometrial carcinoma versus secretory phase endometrium (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate an increased expression of IPO13 in endometriosis and endometrial carcinoma, which could be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and endometrial carcinoma; IPO13 can serve as an endometrial progenitor/stem cell marker.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometrial Neoplasms Endometriosis Karyopherins Adult Aged Antigens, CD Antigens, CD Blotting, Western Endometrial Neoplasms Endometrial Neoplasms Endometrial Neoplasms Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Endometrium Female Gene Expression Regulation Humans

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