Aberrant Telomerase Expression in the Endometrium of Infertile Women with Deep Endometriosis

Fernanda Mafra, Fernanda A Mafra, Mafra FA, Denise Maria Christofolini, Denise M Christofolini, Viviane Cavalcanti, Cavalcanti V, Vilarino F.L, Fabia L Vilarino, Fabia Lima Vilariño, André GM, Gustavo M André, Gustavo Mendonça André, Kato P, Patricia Kato, Bianca Bianco, Caio Parente Barbosa, Caio P Barbosa
Archives of medical research · 2013 · vol. 45(1) , pp. 31–35 · doi:10.1016/j.arcmed.2013.12.002 · PMID:24321595 · W1976220047
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This study investigated telomerase expression in the endometrium of infertile women with deep endometriosis, revealing aberrant expression patterns in this patient group.

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Abstract

Background and aimsConsidering the complex cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in endometriosis formation and progression and the similarities concerning the association of endometriosis with tumorigenesis and metastasis, we hypothesized a possible relationship between telomerase and the development/progression of endometriosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the expression of telomerase in the endometrium and peritoneal endometriotic lesions from women with endometriosis and controls.MethodsA case-control study was performed comprising 25 infertile women with endometriosis and 44 fertile women without endometriosis as controls. Samples of endometrium and endometriotic peritoneal lesions of the same patient were harvested in the late luteal phase of the cycle. The expression of hTERT and GAPDH genes was measured by mRNA using qRT-PCR based on TaqMan methodology. Student t test was used to compare the values between the groups; p >0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.ResultsThe mean expression of hTERT in the endometriosis group was significantly high when compared to the control group (1.24 ± 4.67 vs. 0.31 ± 1.10, p = 0.026). When the expression of hTERT was compared in relation to disease stage, the group of moderate/severe endometriosis showed increased expression in relation to control group (2.59 ± 7.35 vs. 0.31 ± 1.10, p = 0.026). Regarding endometriotic peritoneal lesions, only one 1/25 expressed hTERT mRNA. This patient had deep endometriosis.ConclusionsThere was an association between the expression of telomerase (hTERT mRNA) and the genesis and progression of endometriosis.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometrium Infertility, Female Telomerase Adult Case-Control Studies Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Female Humans Infertility, Female Infertility, Female Infertility, Female RNA, Messenger RNA, Messenger Telomerase Telomerase

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