Correlation of abnormal TLR4/MyD88 expression with ectopic cell proliferation and invasion in endometriosis lesions

Objective: To investigate the correlation of abnormal Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) /Myeloid \ndifferentiation factor 88 (MyD88) expression with ectopic cell proliferation and invasion \nin endometriosis lesions. Methods: Patients undergoing surgical treatment for ovarian \nendometriosis in Shenmu Hospital between April 2013 and July 2017 were selected as \nendometriosis (EMs) group, and patients undergoing surgical treatment due to uterine fibroids \nin Shenmu Hospital during the same period were selected as control group. The ectopic \nendometrium tissue was collected from EMs group and the eutopic normal endometrium tissue \nwas collected from control group to determine the mRNA expression of TLR4/MyD88 as well \nas cell proliferation and invasion regulation genes. Results: TLR4, MyD88, cFLIP, Nanog, \nOct4, eIF4E, Twist1, Twist2 and MMP1 mRNA expression in ectopic endometrium tissue \nof EMs group were significantly higher than those in eutopic normal endometrium tissue of \ncontrol group whereas LC3, Smac, Bak, E-cadherin, TIMP1 and TIMP2 mRNA expression \nwere significantly lower than those in eutopic normal endometrium tissue of control group; \nTLR4 and MyD88 mRNA expression in ectopic endometrium tissue of EMs group were \nnegatively correlated with LC3, Smac, Bak, E-cadherin, TIMP1 and TIMP2 mRNA expression, \nand positively correlated with cFLIP, Nanog, Oct4, eIF4E, Twist1, Twist2 and MMP1 mRNA \nexpression. Conclusion: The abnormal high expression of TLR4/MyD88 in the endometriosis \nlesion can promote the proliferation and invasion of ectopic cells.