The expression and significance of importin 13 in endometriosis and endometrial carcinoma

Background and purpose:Human uterine stem/progenitor cells activity contributes to the physiological endometrial repair,but abnormal proliferation and abnormal differentiation of uterine stem/progenitor cells will lead to endometrial disease(such as endometriosis and endometrial carcinoma).Importin 13(IPO13) is the new family member of importin β,a two-way transfer of nuclear receptor proteins and a marker of corneal epithelial stem cells.In the maintenance of stem cells,high proliferative potential and poorly differentiated state play important roles in regulating normal and abnormal of cell differentiation and mouse germ cells meiosis.The study investigated the expression of IPO13 gene,an adult stem cell marker,in endometriosis and endometrial carcinoma tissues for the purpose of finding the relationship between this gene and endometriosis and endometrial carcinoma.Methods:The expression of IPO13 in normal endometrial tissues,endometriosis tissues and endometrial carcinoma tissues was detected by the immunohistochemistry,real-time PCR and Western blot respectively.Results:In endometrial carcinoma,endometriosis and control groups,the expression of IPO13 protein was found in cytoplasm and nucleus of epithelial cells and stromal cells.The expression level of IPO13 protein in normal proliferative phase endometrium was 0.52±0.30,significantly higher than that in normal secretory phase(0.25±0.04,P0.05);IPO13 protein in the ectopic endometrium was 0.81±0.12,significantly higher than that in proliferative phase and secretory phase endometria(P0.05);IPO13 protein in the endometrial carcinoma was 1.21±0.11,significantly higher than that in the ectopic endometrium(P0.05).The expression level of IPO13 mRNA in normal proliferative phase endometrium was 3 times higher than that in normal secretory phase(P0.05);IPO13 mRNA in the ectopic endometrium was 2.5 times higher than that in normal proliferative phase endometrium and 6 times higher than that in normal secretory phase endometrium(P0.05);IPO13 mRNA in the endometrial carcinoma were 2 times higher than that in the ectopic endometrium(P0.05).Conclusion:The expression of IPO13 in endometrial carcinoma and endometriosis is increased,which suggests IPO13 is closely related with endometrial cancer and endometriosis.