Correlation of progesterone receptor gene and 17β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase with endometriosis

Objective To investigate whether there are differential expression of progesterone receptor gene(PRA and PRB)and 17β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type2(17βHSD2)between eutopic endometrium and its diseased counterpart endometriotic tissue.Methods From June 2005 to Oct.2006,eutopic endometrium and ovarian endometriosis were obtained from the patients with endometriosis,who were from China Medical University Shengjing Hospital and PLA 463 Hospital,and the controls,the patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.The expression of PRA and PRB was examined by western blot and 17βHSD2 by RT-PCR.Results The level of PRA proteins were 70.79±10.82 in eutopic endometrium of endometriosis and 78.99 ± 16.02 in controls respectively(P0.05).The expression of PRB proteins was significantly lower in endometriosis(64.87 ± 10.10)than control(156.13 ± 21.46).There was a significant difference beteewn them(P0.01).The level of PRA and PRB proteins was 67.04±6.90 and 60.75 ±6.73 in ovarian endometriotic tissue and 70.79± 10.82 and 64.87 ±10.10 in paired eutopic endometrium of endometriosis(P0.05).The level of 17βHSD2 mRNA was 1.04 ± 0.11 and 1.10 ± 0.16 in eutopic endometrium of endometriosis and control(P0.05).17βHSD2 mRNA was significantly lower in ovarian endometriotic tissue(0.17±0.02)than control(1.04±0.11)(P0.05).Conclusion The absence of PRB in eutopic endometrium and endometriotic tissue of endometriosis and 17βHSD2 in endometriotic tissue may be associated with endometriosis.