Immunohistochemical localization of inhibin and activin subunits, activin receptors and Smads in ovarian endometriosis

Mabuchi, Mabuchi Y, Yasushi Mabuchi, Yamoto M, Mareo Yamoto, Minami S, Sawako Minami, Naohiko Umesaki, Umesaki N
International journal of molecular medicine · 2009 · vol. 25(01) , pp. 17–23 · doi:10.3892/ijmm_00000308 · PMID:19956897 · W2029274299
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-10 ⓘ

This study found that ovarian endometriosis and normal endometrium express activin A and components of its signaling pathway, but not inhibin alpha-subunit.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-10 · read from full text ⓘ

This study used immunohistochemistry to map inhibin α- and βA-subunits, activin A, activin receptors (types IA, IB, IIA, IIB), and Smad2/Smad3/Smad4 in ovarian endometriosis tissues from 13 women, compared with normal endometrium from 5 premenopausal controls sampled during the proliferative phase. The authors found no immunostaining for the inhibin α-subunit in ovarian endometriosis or normal endometrium, while βA-subunit, activin A, the listed activin receptors, and the Smad proteins showed positive staining in both ovarian endometriosis and normal endometrium. A major caveat is that the work is descriptive and based on a small sample size, with no functional assays to determine whether these signals produce different biological effects. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it localizes inhibin/activin and downstream Smad signaling components in ovarian endometriosis versus normal endometrium.

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Abstract

We previously reported that activin A, not inhibin, was localized to endometrial tissues, and that the endometrium might be a major source of activin A during the menstrual cycle, using an immunohistochemical method. However, there are few detailed reports concerning the expression of inhibin subunits, activin receptors and Smad proteins in the ectopic endometrial tissues of endometriosis. In this study, our purpose was to evaluate the immunohistochemical localization of inhibin alpha-, betaA-subunits, activin A, activin receptor, and Smad proteins in ovarian endometriosis. Tissue samples from ovarian endometriosis were obtained from 13 women. Normal endometrial tissues were obtained during the proliferative phase from 5 premenopausal women without endometriosis who were undergoing a hysterectomy for the treatment of uterine cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3. We examined the immunohistochemical localization of inhibin/activin alpha-, betaA-subunit, activin A, activin receptors types IA, IB, IIA, IIB, Smad2, Smad3 and Smad4 using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique. No immunostaining for the alpha-subunit of inhibin was observed in ovarian endometriosis and the normal endometrium. Positive immunostaining for the betaA-subunit of inhibin, activin A, activin receptors types IA, IB, IIA, IIB, Smad2, Smad3 and Smad4 was observed in ovarian endometriosis and the normal endometrium. In conclusion, these results suggest that activin A, but not inhibins, is produced by ovarian endometriosis and the normal endometrium, and that the activin signal transduction system exists in both ovarian endometriosis and the normal endometrium.
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Print ISSN: 1107-3756 Online ISSN: 1791-244X International Journal of Molecular Medicine is an international journal devoted to molecular mechanisms of human disease. International Journal of Oncology is an international journal devoted to oncology research and cancer treatment. Covers molecular medicine topics such as pharmacology, pathology, genetics, neuroscience, infectious diseases, molecular cardiology, and molecular surgery. Oncology Reports is an international journal devoted to fundamental and applied research in Oncology. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine is an international journal devoted to laboratory and clinical medicine. Oncology Letters is an international journal devoted to Experimental and Clinical Oncology. Explores a wide range of biological and medical fields, including pharmacology, genetics, microbiology, neuroscience, and molecular cardiology. International journal addressing all aspects of oncology research, from tumorigenesis and oncogenes to chemotherapy and metastasis. Multidisciplinary open-access journal spanning biochemistry, genetics, neuroscience, environmental health, and synthetic biology. Open-access journal combining biochemistry, pharmacology, immunology, and genetics to advance health through functional nutrition. Publishes open-access research on using epigenetics to advance understanding and treatment of human disease. An International Open Access Journal Devoted to General Medicine. Article - Authors: - Pages: 17-23|Published online on: January 1, 2010https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm_00000308 - Expand metrics + We previously reported that activin A, not inhibin, was localized to endometrial tissues, and that the endometrium might be a major source of activin A during the menstrual cycle, using an immunohistochemical method. However, there are few detailed reports concerning the expression of inhibin subunits, activin receptors and Smad proteins in the ectopic endometrial tissues of endometriosis. In this study, our purpose was to evaluate the immunohistochemical localization of inhibin α-, βA-subunits, activin A, activin receptor, and Smad proteins in ovarian endometriosis. Tissue samples from ovarian endometriosis were obtained from 13 women. Normal endometrial tissues were obtained during the proliferative phase from 5 premenopausal women without endometriosis who were undergoing a hysterectomy for the treatment of uterine cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3. We examined the immunohistochemical localization of inhibin/activin α-, βA-subunit, activin A, activin receptors types IA, IB, IIA, IIB, Smad2, Smad3 and Smad4 using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique. No immunostaining for the α-subunit of inhibin was observed in ovarian endometriosis and the normal endometrium. Positive immunostaining for the βA-subunit of inhibin, activin A, activin receptors types IA, IB, IIA, IIB, Smad2, Smad3 and Smad4 was observed in ovarian endometriosis and the normal endometrium. In conclusion, these results suggest that activin A, but not inhibins, is produced by ovarian endometriosis and the normal endometrium, and that the activin signal transduction system exists in both ovarian endometriosis and the normal endometrium. Copy and paste a formatted citation Spandidos Publications style Mabuchi Y, Yamoto M, Minami S and Umesaki N: Immunohistochemical localization of inhibin and activin subunits, activin receptors and Smads in ovarian endometriosis. Int J Mol Med 25: 17-23, 2010. APA Mabuchi, Y., Yamoto, M., Minami, S., & Umesaki, N. (2010). Immunohistochemical localization of inhibin and activin subunits, activin receptors and Smads in ovarian endometriosis. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 25, 17-23. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm_00000308 MLA Mabuchi, Y., Yamoto, M., Minami, S., Umesaki, N."Immunohistochemical localization of inhibin and activin subunits, activin receptors and Smads in ovarian endometriosis". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 25.1 (2010): 17-23. Chicago Mabuchi, Y., Yamoto, M., Minami, S., Umesaki, N."Immunohistochemical localization of inhibin and activin subunits, activin receptors and Smads in ovarian endometriosis". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 25, no. 1 (2010): 17-23. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm_00000308

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Activin Receptors Activins Endometriosis Inhibins Ovarian Neoplasms Smad Proteins Activin Receptors Activins Adult Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Endometrium Female Humans Immunohistochemistry Inhibins Middle Aged Ovarian Neoplasms Smad Proteins

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