Correlations of CD44v6 and laminin expression with endometriosis

Objective To explore the relations between the expression of CD44v6 and laminin and endometriosis. Methods Expression of CD44v6 and laminin were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in entopic endometrium from 22 patients and in ectopic endometrium from 45 patients with endometriosis and the endometrial tissues of 20 controls without endometriosis. Results CD44v6 was restricted to epithelial cells;laminin was restricted to stoma.Expression of CD44v6 and laminin in epithelial and stoma in endometriosis decreased in eutopic endometrium and ectopic endometrium(P0.05) compared with endometrium in controls. Conclusion In patients with endometriosis expression of CD44v6 and laminin changs significantly from eutopic to ectopic endometrium,which may be related to the development of endometriosis and infertility.