Expression of HGF and HGF activator in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis

Objective:To investigate the role of hepatocyte growth factor(HGF)and hepatocyte growth factor activator(HGFA)on the pathogenesis of endometriosis.Methods:Ectopic(n=27)and homologous eutopic endometrium(n=27)from women with endometriosis and endometrium from women without endometriosis(n=25)were included for immunohistochemical analysis of HGF and HGFA.Results:HGF and HGFA were mainly expressed in glandular cells of eutopic and ectopic endometrium and weakly expressed in stromal cell..Immunohistochemistry revealed increased HGF and HGFA immunoreactivity in eutopic endometrial compared with endometriosis samples in patients with endometriosis and the weakest in endometrium from women without endometriosis(P0.05).HGF and HGFA endometrial expression levels were significantly higher at the proliferative phase than those of the secretory phase in control women(P0.05)but not in patients with endometriosis.HGF expression was positively correlated to HGFA(P0.05).Conclusion:Over-expression of HGF and HGFA protein is found in eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis.The change of HGF and HGFA expression in eutopic endometrium may be related to the pathogenesis of endometriosis.