Endometriosis Knowledgebase


A repository for genes associated with endometriosis

Results


PMID 11172841
Gene Name INHA
Condition Endometriosis (ovarian)
Association Associated
Population size 19
Population details 19 women with ovarian endometriotic cysts
Sex Female
Associated genes inhibin A, activin A
Other associated phenotypes Ovarian endometriosis
Evidence for local production of inhibin A and activin A in patients with ovarian endometriosis.

Fertil Steril. 2001 Feb;75(2):367-73.

Reis, F M| Di Blasio, A M| Florio, P| Ambrosini, G| Di Loreto, C| Petraglia, F

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena Policlinico Le Scotte, 53100 Siena, Italy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expression of inhibin A and activin A in ovarian endometriosis. DESIGN: Uncontrolled cross-sectional study and controlled prospective in vitro study. SETTING: Academic health centers in Siena, Udine, Sassari, and Milan, Italy. PATIENT(S): A group of women (n = 19) who underwent laparoscopic excision of ovarian endometriotic cysts. INTERVENTION(S): Specimens of serum, peritoneal fluid, and cystic fluid, ovarian tissue for immunohistochemistry, and endometriotic cells for primary culture were collected. Cell cultures were also prepared from proliferative endometrium of women without endometriosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dimeric inhibin A and activin A concentrations in biological fluids; immunostaining of alpha and betaA subunits in ovarian endometrioma; alpha and betaA gene expression in cultured endometriotic cells compared with normal endometrium. RESULT(S): Inhibin A and activin A concentrations in the cystic fluid were slightly higher than in peritoneal fluid and significantly higher than in serum (P<.05). Immunoreactive alpha and betaA subunits were strongly expressed both in the epithelial and stromal components of ovarian endometrioma. The relative abundance of betaA mRNA was significantly decreased in endometriotic cells compared with eutopic stromal cells. CONCLUSION(S): The results of the present study provide evidence for a local production and secretion of inhibin A and activin A in ovarian endometriotic cysts.

Mesh Terms: Activins| Adult| Ascitic Fluid/chemistry| Cells, Cultured| Cyst Fluid/chemistry| Dimerization| Endometriosis/*metabolism| Epithelium/metabolism| Female| Gene Expression| Humans| Inhibins/analysis/*biosynthesis/genetics| Ovarian Cysts/*metaboli