Expression of microtubule associated protein 2 and synaptophysin in endometrium: high levels in deep infiltrating endometriosis lesions

Martina Gori; Alice Luddi; Giuseppe Belmonte; Paola Piomboni; Claudia Tosti; Lucia Funghi; Errico Zupi; Lucia Lazzeri; Felice Petraglia

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.10.024

Expression of microtubule associated protein 2 and synaptophysin in endometrium: high levels in deep infiltrating endometriosis lesions

Fertil Steril. 2016 Feb;105(2):435-43. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.10.024. Epub 2015 Nov 18.

Authors

Martina Gori¹, Alice Luddi¹, Giuseppe Belmonte¹, Paola Piomboni¹, Claudia Tosti¹, Lucia Funghi¹, Errico Zupi¹, Lucia Lazzeri¹, Felice Petraglia²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
² Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. Electronic address: felice.petraglia@unisi.it.

PMID: 26604067
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.10.024

Abstract

Objective: To assess whether healthy endometrium, eutopic endometrium, and endometriotic lesions express nerve growth factor (NGF), microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2), and synaptophysin (SYP).

Design: Molecular study in tissue extracts.

Setting: University hospital.

Patient(s): A group of women (n = 70), divided as [1] healthy controls (n = 30) and [2] with endometriosis (n = 40), was included.

Intervention(s): From the healthy control group an endometrial specimen was collected by hysteroscopy (proliferative phase, n = 16; secretive phase, n = 14). Endometriotic and endometrial specimens were collected from women undergoing laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis, endometrioma (OMA) (n = 20), or deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) (n = 20).

Main outcome measure(s): To assess expression of NGF, MAP-2, and SYP messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in endometrium and in endometriosis by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and protein localization by immunofluorescence. Cultures of human endometrial stromal cells were used to evaluate the effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α on NGF and SYP.

Result(s): Endometrial tissue from control expressed mRNA for NGF, MAP-2, and SYP, without any difference between proliferative and secretive phase. The DIE and OMA lesions showed the highest NGF mRNA expression, significantly higher than in eutopic endometrium and control. In DIE lesions SYP mRNA expression was higher than in OMA or in eutopic endometrium or controls. Immunofluorescence analysis of NGF, MAP-2, and SYP showed a slightly more intense positive signal in endometriotic lesions. Exposure to TNF-α increased NGF and SYP mRNA expression in endometrial culture cells.

Conclusion(s): The present study revealed the presence of two selected neuronal markers, MAP-2 and SYP mRNAs and protein expression, in eutopic endometrium and in endometriotic lesions.

Keywords: Endometriosis; microtubule-associated protein 2; nerve growth factor; neurogenesis; synaptophysin.

MeSH terms

Biomarkers / metabolism
Case-Control Studies
Cells, Cultured
Endometriosis / genetics
Endometriosis / metabolism*
Endometriosis / pathology
Endometrium / drug effects
Endometrium / metabolism*
Endometrium / pathology
Female
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Humans
Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
Nerve Growth Factor / genetics
Nerve Growth Factor / metabolism
RNA, Messenger / metabolism
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Synaptophysin / genetics
Synaptophysin / metabolism*
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology

Substances

Biomarkers
MAP2 protein, human
Microtubule-Associated Proteins
NGF protein, human
RNA, Messenger
SYP protein, human
Synaptophysin
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Nerve Growth Factor