TY - JOUR
T1 - Inflammatory status influences aromatase and steroid receptor expression in endometriosis
AU - Bukulmez, Orhan
AU - Hardy, Daniel B.
AU - Carr, Bruce R.
AU - Word, R. Ann
AU - Mendelson, Carole R.
PY - 2008/3
Y1 - 2008/3
N2 - Aberrant up-regulation of aromatase in eutopic endometrium and implants from women with endometriosis has been reported. Aromatase induction may be mediated by increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Recently, we demonstrated that progesterone receptor (PR)-A and PR-B serve an antiinflammatory role in the uterus by antagonizing nuclear factor κB activation and COX-2 expression. PR-C, which antagonizes PR-B, is up-regulated by inflammation. Although estrogen receptor α (ERα) is implicated in endometriosis, an antiinflammatory role of ERβ has been suggested. We examined stage-specific expression of aromatase, COX-2, ER, and PR isoform expression in eutopic endometrium, implants, peritoneum, and endometrioma samples from endometriosis patients. Endometrial and peritoneal biopsies were obtained from unaffected women and those with fibroids. Aromatase expression in eutopic endometrium from endometriosis patients was significantly increased compared with controls. Aromatase expression in endometriosis implants was markedly increased compared with eutopic endometrium. Aromatase mRNA levels were increased significantly in red implants relative to black implants and endometrioma cyst capsule. Moreover, COX-2 expression was increased in implants and in eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis as compared with control endometrium. As observed for aromatase mRNA, the highest levels of COX-2mRNA were found in red implants. The ratio of ERβ/ERα mRNA was significantly elevated in endometriomas compared with endometriosis implants and eutopic endometrium. Expression of PR-C mRNA relative to PR-A and PR-B mRNA was significantly increased in endometriomas compared with eutopic and control endometrium. PR-A protein was barely detectable in endometriomas. Thus, whereas PR-C may enhance disease progression, up-regulation of ERβ may play an antiinflammatory and opposing role.
AB - Aberrant up-regulation of aromatase in eutopic endometrium and implants from women with endometriosis has been reported. Aromatase induction may be mediated by increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Recently, we demonstrated that progesterone receptor (PR)-A and PR-B serve an antiinflammatory role in the uterus by antagonizing nuclear factor κB activation and COX-2 expression. PR-C, which antagonizes PR-B, is up-regulated by inflammation. Although estrogen receptor α (ERα) is implicated in endometriosis, an antiinflammatory role of ERβ has been suggested. We examined stage-specific expression of aromatase, COX-2, ER, and PR isoform expression in eutopic endometrium, implants, peritoneum, and endometrioma samples from endometriosis patients. Endometrial and peritoneal biopsies were obtained from unaffected women and those with fibroids. Aromatase expression in eutopic endometrium from endometriosis patients was significantly increased compared with controls. Aromatase expression in endometriosis implants was markedly increased compared with eutopic endometrium. Aromatase mRNA levels were increased significantly in red implants relative to black implants and endometrioma cyst capsule. Moreover, COX-2 expression was increased in implants and in eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis as compared with control endometrium. As observed for aromatase mRNA, the highest levels of COX-2mRNA were found in red implants. The ratio of ERβ/ERα mRNA was significantly elevated in endometriomas compared with endometriosis implants and eutopic endometrium. Expression of PR-C mRNA relative to PR-A and PR-B mRNA was significantly increased in endometriomas compared with eutopic and control endometrium. PR-A protein was barely detectable in endometriomas. Thus, whereas PR-C may enhance disease progression, up-regulation of ERβ may play an antiinflammatory and opposing role.
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U2 - 10.1210/en.2007-0665
DO - 10.1210/en.2007-0665
M3 - Article
C2 - 18048499
AN - SCOPUS:40849140966
SN - 0013-7227
VL - 149
SP - 1190
EP - 1204
JO - Endocrinology
JF - Endocrinology
IS - 3
ER -