Expression pattern of integrin adhesion molecules in endometriosis and human endometrium

Pedro‐Antonio Regidor, Regidor Pa, P. A. Regidor, C Vogel, Vogel C, M. Regidor, Regidor M, A. E. Schindler, Schindler AE, E Winterhager, Winterhager E
Human Reproduction Update · 1998 · vol. 4(5) , pp. 710–718 · doi:10.1093/humupd/4.5.710 · PMID:10027624 · W2141649716
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Integrin expression patterns differed between eutopic endometrium and endometriotic lesions, with alpha3 absent in endometriosis but re-expressed in lesions, suggesting a dedifferentiated disease state.

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Abstract

Integrins are cell adhesion molecules that undergo cell-specific dynamic changes during the normal menstrual cycle in the human endometrium. Here, using immunohistochemistry, we have investigated the expression pattern of the integrins alphav, alpha2beta1, alpha3beta1, alpha3, alpha6, beta1, beta2 and beta3 in the human ectopic endometrium of 30 patients and in nine cases in the corresponding eutopic endometrium. The biopsies were obtained during the early or late follicular phase (25 cases), during the corpus luteum phase (four cases) and in one case after 6 months' treatment with a gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. The integrin expression was independent of the ovarian steroid situation at the time of biopsy. The integrin alpha6 was expressed in all endometriotic and endometrium samples. The integrin alpha3 was absent in all endometrium tissues of patients with endometriosis. However, the corresponding endometriotic lesions re-expressed this adhesion molecule in 15 cases. No change in integrin beta3 expression pattern could be demonstrated in either endometriotic lesions or endometrium samples, regardless of the menstrual cycle phase. A correlation between serum oestradiol and progesterone concentrations and the expression of the investigated integrins was not observed, thus indicating that these two hormones play a minor role in the regulation of the cell adhesion molecules examined. Our investigation suggests that endometriosis is a dedifferentiated disease as it expressed different integrins in comparison with the eutopic endometrium, and independently of the hormonal situation. The ability of endometriotic tissues to express integrins may explain the high recurrence rates in patients with endometriosis, as these samples retain their adhesion potency after retrograde menstruation and are thus able to establish cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions with the surrounding peritoneum.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometrium Gene Expression Regulation Integrins Menstrual Cycle Biopsy Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Endometrium Endometrium Female Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Hormone Antagonists Hormone Antagonists Humans Integrins

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Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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Cited by (37)

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