Impaired Down-Regulation of E-Cadherin and β-Catenin Protein Expression in Endometrial Epithelial Cells in the Mid-Secretory Endometrium of Infertile Patients with Endometriosis

Sachiko Matsuzaki, Claude Darcha, E. Maleysson, Elodie Maleysson, Michel Canis, Gérard Mage, G. Mage
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2010 · vol. 95(7) , pp. 3437–3445 · doi:10.1210/jc.2009-2713 · PMID:20410224 · W2016390482
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Endometrial epithelial cells in infertile patients with endometriosis showed significantly higher protein expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in the mid-secretory phase compared to fertile controls.

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Abstract

CONTEXT: Only a few, small, human studies on E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression in normal cycling human endometrium have been reported. It remains unclear whether expression of these molecules might be altered in the endometrium of infertile patients with endometriosis. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to investigate E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression in the endometrium of infertile patients with endometriosis, those with uterine fibromas, and patients with unexplained infertility. DESIGN: Expression levels of E-cadherin and beta-catenin mRNA and/or protein in the endometrium of infertile patients with endometriosis (n = 151), those with uterine fibromas (n = 41), patients with unexplained infertility (n = 9), as well as healthy fertile controls (n = 57) were measured. This study utilized laser capture microdissection, real-time RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: No significant differences in E-cadherin or beta-catenin mRNA expression in microdissected epithelial cells were observed among the different groups throughout the menstrual cycle. However, very low or no protein expression of E-cadherin, total beta-catenin, or dephosphorylated beta-catenin in luminal and glandular epithelial cells was detected in the mid-secretory endometrium of healthy fertile controls. E-cadherin, total beta-catenin, and dephosphorylated beta-catenin protein expression in the mid-secretory endometrium of infertile patients with endometriosis or unexplained infertility was significantly higher compared to that of healthy fertile controls in both luminal and glandular epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that impaired down-regulation of E-cadherin and beta-catenin protein expression, along with Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway activation during the window of implantation, might be one of the potential molecular mechanisms of infertility in patients with endometriosis.

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Condition tags

endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

beta Catenin Cadherins Endometriosis Endometrium Infertility Uterine Diseases Adult Analysis of Variance beta Catenin beta Catenin Cadherins Cadherins Down-Regulation Down-Regulation Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Female Humans

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