Detection of the pan neuronal marker PGP9.5 by immuno-histochemistry and quantitative PCR in eutopic endometrium from women with and without endometriosis

Purpose To assess endometrial gene as well as protein expression of neuroendocrine and supposedly endometriosis-associated product PGP9.5 and pain symptoms in women with endometriosis and controls undergoing laparoscopy, using molecular biological and immuno-histochemical approaches in the same patients.

Biopsy of eutopic endometrium from 29 patients by sharp curettage, and preparation of paraffin blocks. Determination of PGP9.5 gene expression and protein abundance using qPCR and immuno-histochemistry.

qPCR; The PGP9.5 mRNA expression level between women with (N = 16) and without (N = 13) endometriosis was not different, regardless of pain symptoms or menstrual cycle phase. PGP9.5 expression was higher in women who reported pain compared to those who did not; however, this association was not statistically significant. The expression of PGP9.5 mRNA was higher in women with endometriosis and pain during the proliferative than in the secretory phase (P = 0.03). Furthermore, in the first half of the cycle, the abundance of the PGP9.5 transcript was also significantly higher in endometriosis patients compared to those without (P = 0.03). Immuno-histochemistry; Thirteen of the 16 endometriosis patients showed positive PGP9.5 immuno-reactivity in the endometrium, whereas no such signal was observed in women without endometriosis. The absolute number of nerve fibres per mm2 in women with endometriosis was similar, regardless of the pain symptoms.

PGP9.5 mRNA expression is increased in the proliferative phase of endometriotic women with pain. The presence of nerve fibres was demonstrated by a PGP9.5 protein signal in immuno-histochemistry and restricted to patients with endometriosis. Based on these results, however, there did not appear to be a direct association between the gene expression and protein abundance in women with and without endometriosis or those that experienced pain. Similar content being viewed by others

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Author information Authors and Affiliations Corresponding author Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Zevallos, H.BV., McKinnon, B., Tokushige, N. et al. Detection of the pan neuronal marker PGP9.5 by immuno-histochemistry and quantitative PCR in eutopic endometrium from women with and without endometriosis. Arch Gynecol Obstet 291, 85–91 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3379-1 Received: Accepted: Published: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3379-1