Expression pattern of stemness-related genes in human endometrial and endometriotic tissues

Mol Med. 2009 Nov-Dec;15(11-12):392-401. doi: 10.2119/molmed.2009.00068. Epub 2009 Aug 10.

Abstract

Endometriosis is a chronic disease characterized by the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue outside of the uterus with mixed traits of benign and malignant pathology. In this study we analyzed in endometrial and endometriotic tissues the differential expression of a panel of genes that are involved in preservation of stemness status and consequently considered as markers of stem cell presence. The expression profiles of a panel of 13 genes (SOX2, SOX15, ERAS, SALL4, OCT4, NANOG, UTF1, DPPA2, BMI1, GDF3, ZFP42, KLF4, TCL1) were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in human endometriotic (n = 12) and endometrial samples (n = 14). The expression of SALL4 and OCT4 was further analyzed by immunohistochemical methods. Genes UTF1, TCL1, and ZFP42 showed a trend for higher frequency of expression in endometriosis than in endometrium (P < 0.05 for UTF1), whereas GDF3 showed a higher frequency of expression in endometrial samples. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that SALL4 was expressed in endometriotic samples but not in endometrium samples, despite the expression of the corresponding mRNA in both the sample groups. This study highlights a differential expression of stemness-related genes in ectopic and eutopic endometrium and suggests a possible role of SALL4-positive cells in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Endometriosis / genetics
  • Endometriosis / metabolism*
  • Endometrium / metabolism
  • Endometrium / physiology*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / genetics
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / metabolism
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • KLF4 protein, human
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3
  • POU5F1 protein, human
  • SALL4 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors