Expression of CD44s and CD44v6 in Eutopic and Eutopic Endometrium of Endometriosis and Endometriotic Tissue

Objective:To explore the relationship between cellular adhesion molecule CD44s?CD44v6 and pathogenesis of endometriosis.Methods:Immunohistochemical technique was adopted with light-microscopy for detecting CD44s and CD44v6 expression in 20 cases of normal endometriums (Control group: C) and 20 cases of eutopic endometrium with endometriosis(EMU) and corresponding ovarian ectopic endometrium(EMC), and 15 cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma. Results:①Positive expression for CD44s and CD44v6 was observed in a secretory pattern and negative in a proliferative pattern of normal glandular epithelial cells, whereas the stroma cell was only positive for CD44s in both proliferative and secretory patterns. ②The expression of CD44s in glandular epithelium of EMU in secretory pattern was significantly higher than that in C, the expression of CD44v6 in glandular epithelium of EMU and EMC in secretory pattern and in CA was all significantly higher than that in C. In some glandular epithelium of EMU and EMC in proliferative pattern also exhibited the expression of CD44s and CD44v6.Conclusions: ①The expression of CD44s and CD44v6 in glandular epithelium of normal group showed a cyclic change following to ovarian hormonal regulation, that means its expression of CD44 may be correlated with the secretory differentiation of endometrial glands. ② The abnormal expression of CD44 isoforms in endometriotic tissue may play an important role in the pathophysiology of endometriosis.