Endometriosis Knowledgebase


A repository for genes associated with endometriosis

Results


PMID 19129371
Gene Name NFKB2
Condition Endometriosis
Association Associated
Population size 79
Population details 79 (37 women with endometriosis, 42 fertile women during laparoscopy)
Sex Female
Infertility type Female infertility
Associated genes NFKB
Other associated phenotypes Endometriosis
Nuclear factor kappaB pathway and interleukin-6 are affected in eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis.

Reproduction. 2009 Apr;137(4):727-37. doi: 10.1530/REP-08-0407. Epub 2009 Jan 7.

Ponce, Carlos| Torres, Marisa| Galleguillos, Carolina| Sovino, Hugo| Boric, M Angelica| Fuentes, Ariel| Johnson, M Cecilia

School of Medicine, Institute of Maternal and Child Research San Borja Arriaran Clinical Hospital, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.

In order to investigate the role of the nuclear factor kappaB (NFKB) pathway on gene expression in the eutopic endometrium in endometriosis, and in particular of interleukin-6 (IL6), we evaluated RELA, IkappaB kinase (CHUK), NFKBIA and IL6 expressions and NFKB DNA binding in eutopic endometrium from women with endometriosis. Eutopic endometrium was obtained from 37 women with endometriosis and 42 fertile women during laparoscopy. We analysed RELA, CHUK, NFKBIA and IL6 mRNA levels (RT-PCR); RELA, CHUK and NFKBIA proteins and p-NFKBIA/NFKBIA ratio (western blot); and NFKB binding (DNA shift assay) and IL6 concentration (ELISA) in endometrial explants. Our results indicate that mRNA and cytoplasmic proteins of RELA and CHUK exhibit constant levels in normal endometrium during the menstrual cycle. A dramatic increase (P<0.05) in NFKBIA mRNA expression, RELA nuclear presence and the mRNA and the protein of IL6 during late secretory phase was also observed in this tissue. By contrast, in eutopic endometrium from endometriosis patients, a decrease (P<0.05) in IL6 mRNA and protein (61%), NFKBIA mRNA (46%), p-NFKBIA/NFKBIA ratio (42%), RELA nuclear stromal (68%) and CHUK (48%) proteins were found exclusively during the late secretory phase compared with normal endometrium. In conclusion, the canonical activation of NFKB pathway is deregulated and may have reduced transcriptional function affecting NFKBIA and IL6 expression, genes related local proinflammatory processes. These molecular alterations observed during the late secretory phase in eutopic endometrium from endometriosis patients constitute a NFKB system dysfunction, suggesting that NFKB could be an important factor in endometriosis aetiology.

Mesh Terms: Adult| Case-Control Studies| DNA/metabolism| Endometriosis/*metabolism| Endometrium/*metabolism| Female| Humans| I-kappa B Kinase/metabolism| I-kappa B Proteins/metabolism| Interleukin-6/*metabolism| NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha| NF-kappa B/*metab