Endometriosis Knowledgebase


A repository for genes associated with endometriosis

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PMID 21932087
Gene Name BMP6
Condition Endometriosis
Association Associated
Population size 85
Population details 85 consecutive women with endometriosis
Sex Female
Associated genes BMP-6
Other associated phenotypes Endometriosis
Co-expression of bone morphogenetic protein 6 with estrogen receptor a in endometriosis.

Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2012 Apr;285(4):1001-7. doi: 10.1007/s00404-011-2082-8. Epub

Athanasios, Farfaras| Afrodite, Nonni| Effstratios, Patsouris| Demetrios, Kassanos

First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Helena Venizelou" Hospital, Agias Barbaras 32, Palaio Faliro, 17563 Athens, Greece. farfaras@gmail.com

BACKGROUND: Bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP-6) has decisive role in controlling multiple organogenetic processes, as well as modulating cell differentiation and proliferation. Considering those pleiotropic effects, we focused on determining expression of that multifunctional growth factor in ectopic endometriotic tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, 85 consecutive women with endometriosis were included. All patients underwent gynecological operations due to endometriosis associated problems and tissue specimens were collected from ectopic endometriotic lesions. Immunohistochemical staining of paraffin sections for both BMP-6 and estrogen receptors a (ERa) was performed in all 85 cases using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase procedure. RESULTS: Ectopic endometrium showed intense cytoplastic immunoreactivity to BMP-6 in both epithelium and stroma. In addition, we have demonstrated that BMP-6 expression is highly associated with strong expression of ERa. DISCUSSION: The availability of BMP-6 in the ectopic endometrium may be at least partly involved in the mechanisms of attachment, survival and expansion of endometriosis. Moreover, the statistically significant correlation in expression of BMP-6 and ERa demonstrated in this study may be associated with the development of rich in estrogen microenvironment, but requires further investigation. In conclusion, this is the first study in our knowledge demonstrating strong expression of BMP-6 in endometriosis.

Mesh Terms: Adolescent| Adult| Aged| Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6/*biosynthesis| Choristoma/*metabolism| Endometriosis/*metabolism/surgery| *Endometrium| Estrogen Receptor alpha/*biosynthesis| Female| Humans| Immunohistochemistry| Middle Aged| Prospective