ILK-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition promotes the invasive phenotype in adenomyosis

OBJECTIVE: Adenomyosis is a benign gynecological disease, characterized by the malignant biological behaviors of invasion and metastasis. ILK plays an important role in intercellular adhesion and triggers the process of EMT. In this study, we investigated the role of ILK-induced EMT in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis. METHODS: ILK and EMT markers including E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Vimentin have been detected with Immunohistochemistry(IHC), RT-PCR and Western Blot, in normal endometrium, matched eutopic and ectopic endometrium respectively. Primary endometrial cells were isolated in order to observed the morphology features, as well as the change of invasiveness. RESULTS: Hyper-activation of ILK were detected in the adenomyosis lesions, along with the typical aberrant expression of EMT markers. Furthermore, comparing with ESCs, the EuSCs showed a more invasive and dynamic phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: ILK-induced EMT is a novel mechanism in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis and may be a potential therapeutic agent for adenomyosis.