Apoptosis and bcl-2 expression in normal human endometrium, endometriosis and adenomyosis

R K Jones, Rowdy Jones, Jones RK, Searle RF, R F Searle, Judith N. Bulmer, J N Bulmer, Bulmer JN
Human Reproduction · 1998 · vol. 13(12) , pp. 3496–3502 · doi:10.1093/humrep/13.12.3496 · PMID:9886539 · W2165943038
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This study investigated apoptosis and bcl-2 expression in normal endometrium, endometriosis, and adenomyosis, finding increased stromal bcl-2 in endometriosis lesions compared to eutopic endometrium.

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Abstract

Apoptosis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases and is partly regulated by bcl-2, which blocks the apoptotic pathway and promotes cell survival. Apoptosis and bcl-2 expression were examined in paired eutopic and ectopic endometrium from women with endometriosis (n = 30 samples) or adenomyosis (n = 15 samples) and compared with control endometrium (n = 30 samples). Apoptotic cells were detected using the dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay for DNA fragmentation; bcl-2 expression was demonstrated with a streptavidin-biotin peroxidase immunohistochemical technique. Apoptotic cells were rare in eutopic, ectopic and control endometrium; there were no significant differences between subject groups nor between eutopic and ectopic endometrium. Stromal bcl-2 expression increased in the late secretory phase in control and eutopic endometrium in endometriosis; double labelling studies revealed that most stromal bcl-2+ cells were leukocytes. Stromal bcl-2 expression in endometriotic foci was significantly increased compared with the paired eutopic endometrium, did not vary with menstrual cycle and included a significant population of non-leukocytic bcl-2+ stromal cells. In contrast, stromal bcl-2 expression in adenomyosis remained at low levels and did not show significant cyclical variation. Glandular epithelial bcl-2 expression also varied with menstrual cycle phase and peaked in the proliferative phase; in contrast, surface epithelial bcl-2 expression increased in the late secretory phase. Elevated stromal bcl-2 expression in ovarian endometriotic lesions could have implications for the growth and survival of ectopic endometrial tissue at these sites.

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Condition tags

endometriosisadenomyosis

MeSH descriptors

Apoptosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Female Humans Immunohistochemistry Menstrual Cycle Menstrual Cycle Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 Stromal Cells Stromal Cells

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