Endometriosis Knowledgebase


A repository for genes associated with endometriosis

Results


PMID 24661731
Gene Name WNT1
Condition Endometriosis
Association Associated
Population size 69
Population details 69 (30 with endometriosis, 39 women undergoing ICSI for male infertility)
Sex Female
Associated genes WNT4, WNT5a, WNT1, ?-catenin, BMP4
Other associated phenotypes Endometriosis
The WNT/beta-catenin signaling pathway and expression of survival promoting genes in luteinized granulosa cells: endometriosis as a paradigm for a dysregulated apoptosis pathway.

Fertil Steril. 2014 Jun;101(6):1688-96. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.02.040.

Sanchez, Ana M| Vigano, Paola| Quattrone, Federica| Pagliardini, Luca| Papaleo, Enrico| Candiani, Massimo| Panina-Bordignon, Paola

Reproductive Sciences Laboratory, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.| Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: vigano.paola@hsr.it.| Repr

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the WNT/beta-catenin signaling pathway in luteinized granulosa cells from women with and without endometriosis in relation to cellular apoptosis. DESIGN: Basic. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): Patients with a laparoscopic diagnosis of endometriosis (n = 30) and women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection for male infertility (control group n = 39). INTERVENTION(S): Isolation of luteinized granulosa cells. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Gene expression analysis of components of the WNT/beta-catenin pathway, protein expression levels of beta-catenin, and cell cycle studies in luteinized granulosa cells. RESULT(S): Compared with luteinized granulosa cells from control women, cells derived from endometriosis patients had significantly higher transcript levels of the beta-catenin-independent molecules WNT4 and WNT5a and lower levels of the beta-catenin-dependent molecule WNT1. A decrease of total beta-catenin as well as of its dephosphorylated active form, together with an aberrant gene expression of the downstream targets survivin and BMP4, was detected in cells from affected women. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed an enhanced apoptosis of luteinized granulosa cells from patients with endometriosis. CONCLUSION(S): The concomitant dysregulation of specific members of the WNT pathway and of its pivot molecule beta-catenin in granulosa cells characterized by an increased apoptosis suggests that the WNT/beta-catenin signaling pathway might be involved in leading to granulosa cell atresia.

Mesh Terms: Adult| *Apoptosis| Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4/genetics/metabolism| Case-Control Studies| Cell Survival| Cells, Cultured| Endometriosis/genetics/*metabolism/pathology| Female| Gene Expression Regulation| Humans| Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins/