Expression and significance of Fas/FasL in ectopic endometrium in endometriosis

Objective To explore the roles of Fas and Fas Ligand(FasL) in the pathogenesis of endometriosis (EM). Methods Immunohistochemical S-P method was employed to detect the expression of Fas and Fas Ligand in ectopic tissues and eutopic endometrium of the patients with EM ( n =56) and the normal controls( n =20). In situ hybridization technique was used to investigate the transcription level and condition of FasL gene. Results The expression level of Fas in ectopic and eutopic endometrium in EM was lower than that in control group( P 0.05), butthe expression level of FasL was higher than that of the control group( P 0.01). And their expressions were irrespective of the phases of menstrual cycle. Results of in situ hybridization showed that the expression level and the positive rate of FasLmRNA in endometriotic tissue were both higher than that in normal endometrium( P 0 01, P 0.05). Conclusion Both Fas and Fas Ligand(FasL) are abnormally expressed in endometriosis and adenomyosis, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the diseases.