Expression and role of P450 aromatizing enzyme protein in endometriosis

Objective To detect the expression of P450 aromatizing enzyme(P450A) protein and messenger RNA(mRNA), and discuss the effection in endometriosis. Methods PT-PCR and immunohistochemistry method was used to detect the expressions of P450A and mRNA in 112 subjects, including 45 cases of ovarian endometriosis, 32 cases of ovarian eutopic endometrium and 35 cases of normal endometrium. Results P450A mRNA levels were higher in the ectopic endometrium than that in eutopic endometrium(P 0.01); P450A mRNA was present in only 2 of 35 normal uterine endometrium samples. The expression characteristic of P450A protein was the same as one of P450A mRNA in ectopic endometrium. Conclusions The abnormal expression of P450A may lead to local high estrogen biosynthesis in endometriosis. The expression of P450A in eutopic endometrium demonstrated that the protective mechanism of eutopic endometrium was worse than that of normal endometrium. The abnormal expression of P450A probably plays an important role in the development and growth of endometriosis.