Alteration of focal adhesion kinase expression in eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis

Mu, Lin; Zheng, Wei; Wang, Liang; Chen, Xue-Jun; Zhang, Xiang; Yang, Jian-Hua

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.03.060

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Volume 89, Issue 3 , Pages 529-537, March 2008

Alteration of focal adhesion kinase expression in eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis

Lin Mu, Ph.D.
- Department of Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China
Wei Zheng, Ph.D., M.D.
- Department of Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China
- Reprint requests: Wei Zheng, Ph.D., M.D., Department of Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009 China (FAX: 86-571-87068001).
Liang Wang, Ph.D.
- Department of Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China
Xue-Jun Chen, M.D.
- Department of Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China
Xiang Zhang, M.D.
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Jian-Hua Yang, Ph.D.
- Department of Gynecology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China

Received 14 December 2006; received in revised form 13 March 2007; accepted 13 March 2007. published online 01 June 2007.

Objective

To investigate whether focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression is altered in eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis.

Design

Experimental study using human endometrial tissue.

Setting

Academic research center.

Patient(s)

Women with or without endometriosis who were undergoing surgery for benign indications.

Intervention(s)

Endometrial biopsy.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Expression of FAK was assessed by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting analysis, and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Result(s)

At secretory phase, the average level of endometrial FAK expression of women with endometriosis was significantly higher than that of controls, but no significant difference was found between the two groups at proliferative phase. There was a positive correlation between FAK expression in secretory endometrial tissues and disease stage and pelvic pain in women with endometriosis. Furthermore, the endometrial FAK protein expression varied with the serum E₂ at proliferative phase and with the ratio of E₂ to P at secretory phase.

Conclusion(s)

The study showed a significant increase of FAK expression in the secretory endometrial tissues of women with endometriosis, a relationship between FAK expression and disease stage, pelvic pain, and serum steroid hormones. Those results suggest that FAK may play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and be regulated by steroid hormones.

Key Words: Endometriosis, eutopic endometrium, focal adhesion kinase