Estrogen Receptor-α and -β in Endometriosis and Normal Endometrium in Humans

Wu Lin, Yao Yuan Hsieh, Fuu Jen Tsai, Weng Cheng Chang, Cherry Chang, Horng Der Tsai
In: Zhōngtáiwān yīxué kēxué zázhì · 2005 · vol. 10(2) , pp. 65–72 · doi:10.6558/mtjm.2005.10(2).2 · W2228382733
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

Estrogen receptor-alpha mRNA and protein were suppressed in endometriotic tissues compared to normal endometrium, while ER-beta expression remained higher than ER-alpha in both conditions.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

This human study compared estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α) and beta (ER-β) mRNA (by RT-PCR) and protein levels (by Western blot) across three groups: eutopic endometrium from controls (n=10), eutopic endometrium from endometriosis patients (n=11), and ectopic endometrium/endometriotic lesions from endometriosis patients (n=11). ER-α mRNA was highest in controls, lower in patient eutopic endometrium, and lowest in ectopic lesions, while ER-β mRNA showed the highest levels in controls with lower expression in both patient groups; ER-α was lower than ER-β at the mRNA level in all groups. At the protein level, ER-α/-β proportions differed by group, with ectopic tissue showing lower ER protein expression than eutopic endometrium, and the authors noted no significant difference between control and patient eutopic endometrium for ER protein. The paper does not explicitly discuss adenomyosis. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it analyzes ER-α and ER-β expression differences between endometriotic lesions and normal eutopic endometrium in humans.

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Abstract

Purpose. Endometriosis is an estrogen-related disease. The biologic activity of estrogen is mediated by two high-affinity estrogen receptors, ER-α and ER-β. We aimed to evaluate the levels of expression of ER-α and -β in endometriotic lesions and normal endometrium. Methods. Samples were divided into three groups: Group 1 comprised eutopic endometrium from normal controls (n=10); Group 2 consisted of eutopic endometrium (n=11) and Group 3 ectopic endometrium (n=11) from endometriosis patients. ER-α and -β mRNA in each Group was surveyed with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Their protein levels were detected by Western blot analysis. ER-α and -β mRNA and protein expressions in each group were compared. Results The proportion of ER-α/-β mRNA expression was 67.15/89.48 in Group 3,31.9/60.61 in Group 1, and 0/76.23% in Group 2. ER-ct mRNA expression was highest in Group 1, moderate in Group 2, and lowest in Group 3 (p＜0.05). ER-β mRNA expression was highest in Group 1, moderate in Group 3, and lowest in Group 2 (p＜0.05). ER-α mRNA expression was significantly lower than ER-β mRNA in all groups. The proportion of ER-α/-β protein expression was 45.45/61.77 in Group 3, 47.21/60.52 in Group 1, and 37/48.21% in Group 2. ER protein expression in eutopic endometrium in Groups 3 and 1 did not differ significantly. ER protein expression in ectopic endometrium was significantly lower than in eutopic endometrium in Groups 3 and 1. Conclusions. ER-β protein expression is higher than ER-α in normal endometrium and in endometritic tissue. ER-α mRNA and protein are suppressed in endometriotic tissue. The ER gene isoforms likely contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

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endometriosis

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