Expression Patterns of Progesterone Receptor Membrane Components 1 and 2 in Endometria From Women With and Without Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a hormone-dependent inflammatory condition associated with pain and infertility. A growing body of evidence supports attenuated secretory-phase progesterone responsiveness in women with this disease. Herein, we compare the expression of progesterone receptor membrane components (PGRMC) 1 and 2 in eutopic endometrium from 11 women with laparoscopically and/or histologically proven stage III/IV endometriosis and 23 disease-free women. Menstrual cycle phase was determined using a combination of reported cycle day, serum hormone profile, and endometrial histologic dating. The PGRMC-1 (fold change −3.3; P < .05) and PGRMC-2 (fold-change −8.8; P < .05) gene expression were significantly downregulated in secretory phase, eutopic endometrium from women with endometriosis. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated decreased PGRMC-1 and PGRMC-2 protein expression in the secretory phase endometrial stroma cells of women with endometriosis. Consistent with the preclinical work of others, our results reflect downregulation of endometrial PGRMC-1 and PGRMC-2 expression in secretory phase endometrium from women with advanced stage endometriosis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of attenuated progesterone action in endometriosis has important diagnostic and therapeutic implications. Similar content being viewed by others

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Expression Patterns of Progesterone Receptor Membrane Components 1 and 2 in Endometria From Women With and Without Endometriosis. Reprod. Sci. 21, 190–197 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719113492208 Published: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719113492208