Results
| PMID | 21454316 |
| Gene Name | UCN |
| Condition | Endometriosis |
| Association |
Associated |
| Population size | 119 |
| Population details | 119 (39 patients with endometrioma, 39 women with endometriosis, 41 patients without endometriosis) |
| Sex | Female |
| Associated genes | Ucn 2 |
| Other associated phenotypes |
Endometriosis |
|
Mol Hum Reprod. 2011 Sep;17(9):587-93. doi: 10.1093/molehr/gar020. Epub 2011 Mar Novembri, Romina| Carrarelli, Patrizia| Toti, Paolo| Rocha, Ana Luiza L| Borges, Lavinia E| Reis, Fernando M| Piomboni, Paola| Florio, Pasquale| Petraglia, Felice Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, Policlinico Santa Maria alle Scotte Viale Bracci, Siena 53100, Italy. Urocortin 2 (Ucn 2) and urocortin 3 (Ucn 3) are neuropeptides expressed by human endometrium. This study evaluated (i) the expression of Ucn 2 and Ucn 3 mRNA in endometriotic lesions and in endometrium of women with endometriosis; (ii) the effect of Ucn 2 and Ucn 3 on cytokines secretion from cultured endometrial stromal cells. Endometriotic tissue was collected from endometrioma (n=39); endometrial specimens were obtained from women with (n=39) and without (n=41) endometriosis throughout menstrual cycle. Tissue specimens were analysed for Ucn 2 and Ucn 3 mRNA expression and peptide localization; the effects of Ucn 2 or Ucn 3 on tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL-4) secretion from cultured endometrial stromal cells was studied. Ucn 2 and Ucn 3 mRNA expression and localization were assessed by RT-PCR and by immuohistochemistry, respectively; cytokines secretion were measured by ELISA. Results showed that endometriotic tissue expressed both Ucn 2 and Ucn 3, with Ucn 3 expression higher in ectopic than in eutopic endometrium. Endometrial Ucn 2 mRNA expression in controls showed peak values at early proliferative phase, while in endometriotic patients low expression and no significant changes throughout menstrual cycle were observed. Endometrial Ucn 3 mRNA expression was highest in late secretory phase in controls, while in endometriotic patients low levels and no menstrual-cycle-related changes were found. When added to cultured endometrial cell cultures, Ucn 2 significantly increased TNF-alpha (P<0.01) and IL-4 (P<0.001), while Ucn 3 induced an increase of IL-4 secretion (P<0.01). In conclusion, endometriotic tissue expressed and localized Ucn 2 and Ucn 3; patients with endometriosis showed Ucn 2 and Ucn 3 mRNA expression in eutopic endometrium lower than in control group, with no endometrial cycle-related changes. Ucn 2 and Ucn 3-modulated TNF-alpha and IL-4 secretion from culture endometrial cells. These data suggest a possible involvement of Ucn 2 and Ucn 3 in the mechanisms of endometriosis. Mesh Terms: Adult| Cells, Cultured| Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/genetics/*metabolism/pharmacology| Endometriosis/*metabolism/*pathology| Endometrium/cytology/metabolism/pathology| Female| Humans| Inflammation/*metabolism/pathology| Interleukin-4/secretion |
|