Altered Gene Expression Profile in Vaginal Polypoid Endometriosis Resembles Peritoneal Endometriosis and Is Consistent with Increased Local Estrogen Production

S M Syrcle, Katherine E. Pelch, K E Pelch, A L Schroder, Amy L. Schroder, Bailey Miskew Nichols, B M Nichols, M P Mills, Michael P. Mills, B F Barrier, Breton F. Barrier, A D Havey, Ann D. Havey, S C Nagel, Susan C. Nagel
Gynecologic and obstetric investigation · 2010 · vol. 71(2) , pp. 77–86 · doi:10.1159/000320736 · PMID:21150157 · PMC3202918 · W1994856438
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Vaginal polypoid endometriosis showed upregulated estrogen receptor-β, downregulated estrogen receptor-α, and increased estrogen synthesis enzymes compared to control vaginal tissue, similar to peritoneal endometriosis.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: In a university hospital setting, a 25-year-old woman presented with large vaginal and cervical polyps. Past medical history was significant for stage IV endometriosis. Polypectomy was performed and the polyps were histologically consistent with endometriosis. Gene expression was compared with control vaginal tissue to assess if the altered gene expression profile was similar to peritoneal endometriosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using quantitative reverse transcription, real-time PCR, estrogen receptor-β expression was found to be upregulated 10-fold while estrogen receptor-α expression was downregulated 5-fold in the vaginal polyp relative to control vaginal tissue. The estrogen-synthesizing enzyme aromatase was upregulated 8-fold and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was upregulated 400-fold in the polyp. Immunohistochemical staining revealed altered cell type localization for progesterone receptor in the polyp and increased cell proliferation in polyp stromal cells relative to control. CONCLUSIONS: Increased proliferation in the vaginal polypoid endometriotic tissue may be due to increased local estrogen production. The altered gene expression profile was very similar to the altered gene expression profile seen in peritoneal endometriosis.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Estrogens Gene Expression Peritoneal Diseases Polyps Vaginal Diseases Adolescent Adult Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Estrogen Receptor alpha Estrogen Receptor alpha Estrogen Receptor alpha Estrogen Receptor beta Estrogen Receptor beta Estrogen Receptor beta Estrogens Female Gene Expression Profiling

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