Expression of a synthetic enzymen for L-selectin ligant in the endometrium of implantation window stage from the patients with endometriosis

Objective To investigate the expression of N-acetylglucosamine- 6-O-sulfotransferase,an important enzyme in synthesis of L-selectin ligands, in the endometrium during the window stage of implantation in women with or without endometriosis.Methods Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was used to detect and quantize N-acetylglucosamine- 6-O-sulfotransferase mRNA expression levels in the endometrium during the window of implantation. Eight patients with endometriosis were included as study group, and 20 patients without endometriosis as control group.Results The expression of N-acetylglucosamine-6-O-sulfotransferase was observed in endometrium of implantation window stage, and the expression level in study group was significantly lower than that in control group (0.124±0.069 vs 0.511±0.25,P0.05). Conclusions The lower expression of N-acetylglucosamine-6-O-sulfotransferase in endometrium of women with endometriosis may indicate a close relationship between the abnormal embryo implantation rate and the mechanism of endometriosis. The abnormal gene expression of N-acetylglucosamine-6-O-sulfotransferase may be one of the explanations for female infertility.