Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 79, 1097-1101, Copyright © 1994 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Quantitative analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor gene expression in endometriosis

JC Huang and J Yeh
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.

The molecular mechanisms by which endometriosis persists in locations outside the uterus are unclear. Recently, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) has been postulated to have a role in the disease process of endometriosis. To explore this, we determined the levels of EGF-R protein and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression in endometriotic tissues and compared the levels to that of eutopic endometrium. Using rabbit anti-EGF-R antibody, we found more intense immunohistochemical staining for EGF-R in glandular cells than in stromal cells of both endometriomas and endometriotic implants. No difference in staining intensity was noted between endometriotic tissues and eutopic endometrium. A ribonuclease protection assay was used to determine mRNA levels for EGF-R. PhosphoImager analysis revealed the following levels of mRNA for EGF-R; eutopic endometrium, 1.00 +/- 0.27 (arbitrary units; mean +/- SEM; n = 6 patients); cyst walls of endometriomas, 0.21 +/- 0.12 (n = 10 patients); endometriotic implants, 0.29 +/- 0.13 (n = 9 patients); and pelvic adhesions, 0.03 +/- 0.03 (n = 5 patients). Endometriotic tissues had significantly less mRNA for EGF-R than eutopic endometrium (P < 0.05, by Newman-Keuls test). Our findings support the hypothesis that EGF-R may be associated with the disease process of endometriosis.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Ulukus, H. Cakmak, and A. Arici The Role of Endometrium in Endometriosis Reproductive Sciences, October 1, 2006; 13(7): 467 - 476. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M.W. Laschke, A. Elitzsch, B. Vollmar, P. Vajkoczy, and M.D. Menger Combined inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor, but not inhibition of VEGF alone, effectively suppresses angiogenesis and vessel maturation in endometriotic lesions Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2006; 21(1): 262 - 268. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L.-Y. C. Wing, P.-C. Chuang, M.-H. Wu, H.-M. Chen, and S.-J. Tsai Expression and Mitogenic Effect of Fibroblast Growth Factor-9 in Human Endometriotic Implant Is Regulated by Aberrant Production of Estrogen J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2003; 88(11): 5547 - 5554. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Gogusev, J.B. de Joliniere, L. Telvi, M. Doussau, S. du Manoir, A. Stojkoski, and M. Levardon Genetic abnormalities detected by comparative genomic hybridization in a human endometriosis-derived cell line Mol. Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2000; 6(9): 821 - 827. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]