Colette S, Lousse J C, Defrère S, Curaba M, Heilier J F, Van Langendonckt A, Mestdagt M, Foidart J M, Loumaye E, Donnez J
Université Catholique de Louvain, Faculty of Medicine, Gynecology Unit, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
Hum Reprod. 2009 Sep;24(9):2133-41. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dep199. Epub 2009 Jun 2.
Aromatase has been reported to be involved in estrogen biosynthesis and expressed in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of endometriosis patients. The objective of the present study was to investigate its expression and localization in three distinct types of endometriosis.
Human peritoneal, ovarian and rectovaginal endometriotic lesions and matched eutopic endometrium were collected from patients during laparoscopy. Aromatase protein localization (immunohistochemistry, n = 63) and mRNA expression [quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR), n = 64] were assessed.
No aromatase protein was detected by immunohistochemistry in either the glandular or stromal compartment of endometriotic lesions or eutopic endometrium, while it was strong in placental syncytiotrophoblasts, granulosa and internal theca cells from pre-ovulatory follicles, and luteal cells from corpus luteum. By Q-PCR, low but discernible levels of aromatase expression were found in endometriomas, probably due to follicular expression. Transcripts for aromatase were barely detectable in only a few peritoneal and rectovaginal endometriotic lesions, and a few eutopic endometrium samples, probably due to contaminating surrounding tissues (adipose tissue, intact peritoneum).
Unlike previous studies, we observed no aromatase protein in any of the endometriosis types, and barely detectable aromatase mRNA expression, suggesting that locally produced aromatase (within endometriotic lesions) may be less implicated in endometriosis development than previously postulated. Potential factors responsible for these discrepancies are discussed.
据报道，芳香化酶参与雌激素生物合成，并在子宫内膜异位症患者的在位和异位内膜中表达。本研究的目的是调查其在三种不同类型子宫内膜异位症中的表达和定位。
在腹腔镜检查期间从患者收集人腹膜、卵巢和直肠阴道子宫内膜异位病变及配对的在位内膜。评估芳香化酶蛋白定位（免疫组织化学，n = 63）和mRNA表达[定量聚合酶链反应（Q-PCR），n = 64]。
免疫组织化学在子宫内膜异位病变或在位内膜的腺腔或间质中均未检测到芳香化酶蛋白，而在胎盘合体滋养层细胞、排卵前卵泡的颗粒细胞和内膜细胞以及黄体的黄体细胞中呈强阳性。通过Q-PCR，在卵巢子宫内膜异位囊肿中发现了低但可辨别的芳香化酶表达水平，可能是由于卵泡表达。仅在少数腹膜和直肠阴道子宫内膜异位病变以及少数在位内膜样本中几乎检测不到芳香化酶转录本，可能是由于周围组织（脂肪组织、完整腹膜）的污染。
与先前的研究不同，我们在任何类型的子宫内膜异位症中均未观察到芳香化酶蛋白，且芳香化酶mRNA表达几乎检测不到，这表明局部产生的芳香化酶（在子宫内膜异位病变内）可能比先前假设的在子宫内膜异位症发展中的作用更小。讨论了造成这些差异的潜在因素。
