Expression and significance of ANGPT-1 and Tie-2 in endometriosis

Objective:To investigate the role of ANGPT-1 and Tie-2 in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.Methods:Immunohistochemical SP method and computerized image analysis technology were employed to detect the expression of ANGPT-1 and Tie-2 in the ectopic endometrium and eutopic endometrium of 30 patients with endometriosis. 30 normal endometrium served as controls.Results:ANGPT-1 and Tie-2 were located in the cytoplasma of endothelium, epithelial glands and stroma. The expression of level of ANGPT-1 and Tie-2 in ectopic and eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis were higher than that in normal endometrium (both P0.01). Compared with ectopic endometrium, the expression of ANGPT-1 in eutopic showed no significance (P0.05). However, Tie-2 expression was much higher in ectopic endometrium than that in eutopic endometrium. Cyclic variations were observed for ANGPT-1 and Tie-2 in eutopic and normal endometrium. ANGPT-1 content was found to be higher in eutopic endometrium during secretory phase than that during proliferation phase (P0.01). A significant increase was found in Tie-2 expression during the proliferation phase (P0.01). In normal patients, the level of ANGPT-1 and Tie-2 were much higher during proliferation phase than that during secretory phase.Conclusion:The higher expression of ANGPT-1 and Tie-2 in ectopic and eutopic endometrium with endometriosis indicates that they play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology and development of endometriosis.