beta-HCG/LH receptor (beta-HCG/LH-R) expression in eutopic endometrium and endometriotic implants: evidence for beta-HCG sensitivity of endometriosis

Gernot Hudelist, Hudelist G, Ambros Huber, Huber A, Knoefler M, Martin Knoefler, Sandra Haider, Haider S, Kolbus A, Andrea Kolbus, Czerwenka K, Klaus Czerwenka, Helmy S, Samir Helmy, Kubista E, Ernst Kubista, Singer CF, Christian F Singer
Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) · 2008 · doi:10.1177/1933719108316907 · PMID:18579845
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Researchers found beta-HCG/LH receptor expression in endometriotic implants and detected beta-HCG and beta-HCG/LH receptor mRNA, suggesting endometriosis may be sensitive to these hormones.

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The study investigated protein and gene expression of the beta-hCG/LH receptor (beta-HCG/LH-R) in eutopic endometrium and endometriotic implants from cycling women with endometriosis, using immunofluorescence on 23 paired ectopic/eutopic tissue samples and RT-PCR validation of transcripts, with endometrial samples from 22 healthy controls as comparison. In endometriotic implants, epithelial beta-HCG/LH-R protein was detected in 12/23 samples, and beta-hCG transcripts were present in all 12 receptor-positive cases, with beta-HCG/LH-R mRNA detected in 10 of 12 lesions examined. Levels were not significantly different between ectopic implants and eutopic endometrium from the same patients or compared with controls. The study explicitly concludes that receptor presence rather than selective upregulation suggests possible sensitivity of endometriosis to beta-hCG/LH signaling via beta-HCG/LH-R, and this paper is centrally about endometriosis—demonstrating beta-hCG/LH receptor expression in endometriotic implants and eutopic endometrium.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) target their receptor in gonadal and nongonadal cells to stimulate steroidogenesis and cell growth. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of HCG/LH-R in endometriosis to elucidate a possible impact of LH and HCG on this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Analysis of HCG/LH-R protein expression in 23 paired samples of ectopic and eutopic tissue of cycling women with endometriosis and in endometrial samples from 22 healthy controls was conducted via immunofluorescence. HCG and HCG/LH-R gene expression in endometriotic lesions was confirmed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: In endometriotic implants, epithelial HCG/LH-R was found in 12/23 samples. No significant differences in HCG/LH-R levels were observed when compared with glands of uterine endometrium from the same patients or healthy controls. Messenger RNA transcripts for HCG were detected in all 12 samples, whereas HCG/LH-R mRNAs were observed in 10 of the 12 endometriotic lesions investigated. CONCLUSIONS: Although HCG/LH-R was not found to be selectively upregulated in endometriosis, the mere presence of HCG/LH-R in endometriotic tissue may suggest sensitivity of endometriosis to HCG and LH that target HCG/LH-R.
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Abstract

Background: Luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) target their receptor in gonadal and nongonadal cells to stimulate steroidogenesis and cell growth. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of HCG/LH-R in endometriosis to elucidate a possible impact of LH and HCG on this disease. Materials and methods: Analysis of HCG/LH-R protein expression in 23 paired samples of ectopic and eutopic tissue of cycling women with endometriosis and in endometrial samples from 22 healthy controls was conducted via immunofluorescence. HCG and HCG/LH-R gene expression in endometriotic lesions was confirmed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results: In endometriotic implants, epithelial HCG/LH-R was found in 12/23 samples. No significant differences in HCG/LH-R levels were observed when compared with glands of uterine endometrium from the same patients or healthy controls. Messenger RNA transcripts for HCG were detected in all 12 samples, whereas HCG/LH-R mRNAs were observed in 10 of the 12 endometriotic lesions investigated. Conclusions: Although HCG/LH-R was not found to be selectively upregulated in endometriosis, the mere presence of HCG/LH-R in endometriotic tissue may suggest sensitivity of endometriosis to HCG and LH that target HCG/LH-R. Similar content being viewed by others

References

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The expression of human chorionic gonadotropin/human luteinizing hormone receptors in ectopic human endometrial implants. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1992;75:1140–1144. Author information Authors and Affiliations Corresponding author Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Hudelist, G., Huber, A., Knoefler, M. et al. β-HCG/LH Receptor (β-HCG/LH-R) Expression in Eutopic Endometrium and Endometriotic Implants: Evidence for β-HCG Sensitivity of Endometriosis. Reprod. Sci. 15, 543–551 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719108316907 Published: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719108316907

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endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human Endometriosis Luteinizing Hormone Receptors, LH Adult Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human Endometriosis Female Humans Luteinizing Hormone Luteinizing Hormone Middle Aged Receptors, LH Receptors, LH

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