EXPRESSIONS OF AROMATASE CYTOCHROME P450 mRNA AND CYCLOOXYGENASE-2 mRNA IN ENDOMETRIOSIS AND ADENOMYOSIS

Objective To study the mRNA expressions of aromatase cytochrome P450 and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) in endometriosis(EMs) and adenomyosis(AM) and their correlation with the diseases. Methods The expression of P450arom mRNA and COX-2 mRNA were assessed by RT-PCR in 22 cases of normal endometrium,42 of EMs and 33 of AM including the eutopic and ectopic endometrium.The correlation between the mRNA expressions were analyzed. Results P450arom mRNA was expressed both in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of EMs and AM.But in normal endometrium,P450arom mRNA expression was not found.The difference between them was significant(F=28.777,q=4.624-10.282,P0.01).The P450arom mRNA expressions in ectopic endometrium of EMs and AM were significantly higher than that in eutopic endometrium(q=2.964,2.655;P0.01,0.05).COX-2 mRNA was not or weakly expressed in normal endometrium,but it,in ectopic and eutopic endometrium of EMS and AM,significantly up-regulated compared with normal endometrium(F=21.307,q=2.583-7.905,P0.01).Furthermore,the expression of COX-2 mRNA in secretory phase was significantly higher than in proliferative phase in normal endometrium and EMs(t=4.401-15.865,P0.05).No significant changes of COX-2 mRNA expression were found throughout the menstrual cycle in AM.The COX-2 mRNA expressions in ectopic endometrium of EMs and AM were significantly higher than that in eutopic endometrium(q=2.623,5.908;P0.05).There were no correlation between the mRNA expressions of 450arom and COX-2 in EMs,and rAFS phases.There was a positive correlation between P450arom mRNA expression and COX-2 mRNA expression in EMs(r=0.964,P0.01) and AM(r=0.813,P0.01). Conclusion P450arom and COX-2 mRNA expressions are closely correlated with the pathogenesis of EMs and AM.The synergistic action of the two enhances the occurence and development of EMs and AM.