Results
| PMID | 20410224 |
| Gene Name | CTNNB1 |
| Condition | Endometriosis |
| Association |
Associated |
| Population size | 258 |
| Population details | 258 (151 infertile patients with endometriosis, 41 uterine fibromas, 9 patients with unexplained infertility, 57 healthy fertile controls) |
| Sex | Female |
| Infertility type | Female infertility |
| Associated genes | E-cadherin, beta-catenin |
| Other associated phenotypes |
Endometriosis, Endometriosis associated infertility |
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J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Jul;95(7):3437-45. doi: 10.1210/jc.2009-2713. Epub Matsuzaki, Sachiko| Darcha, Claude| Maleysson, Elodie| Canis, Michel| Mage, Gerard CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Polyclinique- Hotel-Dieu, Gynecologie Obstetrique et Medecine de la Reproduction, Clermont-Ferrand, Boulevard Leon Malfreyt, 63058 Clermont-Ferrand, France. sachikoma@aol.com CONTEXT: Only a few, small, human studies on E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression in normal cycling human endometrium have been reported. It remains unclear whether expression of these molecules might be altered in the endometrium of infertile patients with endometriosis. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to investigate E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression in the endometrium of infertile patients with endometriosis, those with uterine fibromas, and patients with unexplained infertility. DESIGN: Expression levels of E-cadherin and beta-catenin mRNA and/or protein in the endometrium of infertile patients with endometriosis (n = 151), those with uterine fibromas (n = 41), patients with unexplained infertility (n = 9), as well as healthy fertile controls (n = 57) were measured. This study utilized laser capture microdissection, real-time RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: No significant differences in E-cadherin or beta-catenin mRNA expression in microdissected epithelial cells were observed among the different groups throughout the menstrual cycle. However, very low or no protein expression of E-cadherin, total beta-catenin, or dephosphorylated beta-catenin in luminal and glandular epithelial cells was detected in the mid-secretory endometrium of healthy fertile controls. E-cadherin, total beta-catenin, and dephosphorylated beta-catenin protein expression in the mid-secretory endometrium of infertile patients with endometriosis or unexplained infertility was significantly higher compared to that of healthy fertile controls in both luminal and glandular epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that impaired down-regulation of E-cadherin and beta-catenin protein expression, along with Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway activation during the window of implantation, might be one of the potential molecular mechanisms of infertility in patients with endometriosis. Mesh Terms: Adult| Analysis of Variance| Cadherins/genetics/*metabolism| Down-Regulation/physiology| Endometriosis/complications/genetics/*metabolism| Endometrium/*metabolism| Female| Humans| Immunohistochemistry| Infertility/complications/genetics/*metaboli |
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