Expression of survivin in endometriosis and its relationship with bcl-2 and bax protein

Objective To study the relationship of apoptosis-related gene survivin with bcl-2, bax protein in endometriosis. Methods The expressions of survivin, bcl-2 and bax protein were detected by immunohistochemical method (SP) in ectopic endometrium from 40 cases, and compared with that in eutopic endometrium from 25 cases without endometriosis. Results The expression rate of survivin protein in endometriotic cells was much higher than that in normal endometrial cells. The survivin was not correlated with the phase of menstrual cycle , but positively correlated to bcl-2, negatively to bax. Conclusion Survivin may play an important role in pathogenesis of endometriosis. With survivin gene, apoptosis-related gene bcl-2 may have a synergic role and bax have an antagonistic role in the formation and progression of endometriosis.