Impaired down-regulation of E-cadherin and beta-catenin protein expression in endometrial epithelial cells in the mid-secretory endometrium of infertile patients with endometriosis

Sachiko Matsuzaki, Matsuzaki S, Claude Darcha, Darcha C, Maleysson E, E. Maleysson, Elodie Maleysson, Michel Canis, Gérard Mage, G. Mage, Mage G
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 Adult Analysis of Variance Analysis of Variance beta Catenin beta Catenin beta Catenin Cadherins Cadherins Cadherins Down-Regulation Down-Regulation Down-Regulation Endometriosis

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